ROSSVILLE, Georgia - Monday, September 6,2010 - 5:10am - Rossville Fire
Department and GDC 9 were dispatched to a reported apartment complex fire
with possible entrapment at the Woodland Apartments on Park City Road in
North Georgia. In short order, the first Rossville Engine Company arrived on
scene and confirmed heavy involvement to a multi dwelling structure. That
engine company immediately started laying a 5 inch supply hose from a nearby
fire hydrant to the scene. Rossville Fire units also quickly requested
additional manpower and equipment to the scene.
Walker County, Fort Oglethorpe and East Ridge
Fire Departments were requested for mutual aid assistance. Meanwhile the
Rossville crews on the scene started a primary fire attack on the already
rapidly growing blaze. As additional fire units and crews were arriving on
the scene, command was quickly turn over to MA1, Chief Eddie Phillips. Chief
Phillips set up multiple fire attacks to keep the fire from spreading to the
nearby complex's. In addition two aerial master streams were placed in
service in an attempt to gain rapid control of the blaze.
Residents from the burning complex as well
as residents from the neighboring complexes could only watch as the flames
that were shooting some 30 feet in the air, above the build, consumed the
structure. Although firefighters were spraying large quantities of water on
the fire, at first it appeared as though it was no match for the intense
heat and flames that were shooting from every opening in the building.
Luckily everyone did make it out of the
complex, however several people did require medical attention, one for smoke
inhalation and several others for minor injuries. Those people were treated
on scene by Walker County Medics. Two Walker County Medic units also stood
by on the scene while fire crews battled the blaze. Hamilton County Rescue
units were also called to the scene to assist with fire rehab operations.
With the roof already burned of and walls
starting to collapse, an interior attack was out of the question.
Firefighters used several inch and 3/4 and 2 and 1/2 inch hose lines to set
up a surrounded defensive attack. Firefighters worked like a vicious swarm
of bees aggressively battling the fire for more than two hours before they
got a knockdown on the fire. Unfortunately the building was still a total
loss, however due to aggressive work of the firefighters the damage was
contained to the one building.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
