Crews were kept busy last week with a
2 alarm house fire, a 1 alarm commercial fire, 2 working car fires and
numerous other runs. On Saturday July 12th crews were called out during
a severe thunderstorm for a possible structure fire. Upon arrival of
the first engine they found a very large multi story house with smoke
coming from the large crawl space area. As crews pulled a hand line the
smoke became more intense and firefighters were unable to find the seat
of the fire even using a thermal imaging camera. Crews went inside the
residence that was now filling with smoke and tried to find fire extension.
Crews reported the floor beginning to get soft and they made cuts in
the floor with vent saws. Once the cut into the floor they found what
appeared to be the seat of the fire and started to extinguish it. IC
reported smoke coming from the roof and upon investigation interior crews
reported that the wall going to the 2nd floor and upstairs were hot.
A hose line was stretched upstairs but by this time smoke and heat had
started to build up. As fresh crews rotated into the house the heat and
smoke condition became worse and crews backed to the 1st floor. As a
team was climbing the ladder to vent the roof there was a partial roof
collapse and the fire finally showed itself. After the fire self vented,
crews were able to go back inside and bring the fire under control. There
was extensive overhaul efforts to make sure there was no further hidden
fire. Crews had to lay 1200' of 3 inch hose for relay operation that
brought in numerous tankers from surrounding departments. No one was
injured during the fire and all occupants made it out safely. Units on
the assignment were Mtn. Home Engines 3, 5, 6, Tanker 1, Mobile air unit,
Unit 203, Clarkridge Tanker, Buford Tanker and Rescue, Midway Tanker,
Grover Rescue, and Baxter Regional Ambulance.
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