DADE COUNTY, Georgia - Thursday, November 3,2011 - 12:45 pm - A man entered
S & L Body Shop on Creek Road and reported that the house up the street was
on fire. Ironically enough the person the man was telling was the Assistant
Chief of The North Dade Fire Department. Chief Lowrance immediately called
the still alarm into Dade County and requested a full structural response.
Meanwhile, the chief responded to the station, less than a mile away, and
started a first response with North Dade County Engine 4.
With the station that close, Engine 4 was on
the scene and starting a primary attack within 3 minutes of the report.
Chief Lowrance set up command and gave an initial report of a fully involved
single story residential structure. Trenton Fire Department was the second
in department and they also were only minutes away. Unfortunately the fire
had a heavy fuel load an was quick moving. Crews worked three inch and 3/4
attacks on the blaze.
A fire hydrant was about 300 yards away
from the fire, however railroad tracks separated the scene from the hydrant
and a train was already due to pass. Time was a serious issue for the water
supply, however command advised incoming departments to respond tankers to
avoid a mishap. Within minutes a water supply was well established by a
tanker supply. Crews were able to make a very aggressive attack as well as
protecting to exposures on either side of the house.
Due to the advanced stage of the fire the
home could not be saved. luckily nobody was injured as a result of the fire.
The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Medics with Life
Guard EMS and Dade County Sheriffs Officers also assisted on the scene.
Story and photos by Barb Wuelfing
