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WALKER COUNTY, Georgia - Sunday, October 26,2008 - 2:45am - Walker County
Emergency Services received a 9-1-1 call reporting a structure fire at 112
Haynes Street. Walker 9-1-1 immediately knocked out Station 7 on the call
and within minutes Engine 7 was responding with a crew of five. Before
Engine 7 could arrive on the scene they were advised that everybody was out
of the structure. Several additional companies also started responding
including Engine 6, Engine 2, Squad 1, Rescue 7, Engine 15, and Air light 7.
Engine 7 arrived in minutes, turning the
corner off of Hogan Circle onto the narrow one lane street, the entire block
was dark and eerie except for the brilliant crisp glimmer of flames racing
from the outlined frame of the single story structure. Engine 7 quickly set
up command and reported a working structure fire in a single family home. As
firefighters exited the engine, the B side of the structure started
collapsing and several nearby neighbors started yelling that there maybe two
children still inside.
Engine 7’s crew immediately dashed with an
inch and ¾ hose line to the front door of the structure. With Engineer Bobby
Metcalf on the panel and Lieutenant Greg Clark in command, Sergeant Amanda
Kingsley and Lieutenant Sean Curran made a fearless entry into the burning
home. The two seasoned veterans said as they entered the structure they
could see flames everywhere. With the fear of two children inside they
pushed there own safety aside and like a clip out off the latest hit movie,
took the fire by storm. Within seconds, the crew had a knockdown on the
remaining portion of the structure that had not already collapsed.
Several additional crews arrived on the scene and joined the fire attack,
bringing additional manpower and hose lines to the battle. Those arriving
engine companies quickly established a water supply for the fire attack. Now
under the command of Fire Chief Randy Camp, who had arrived on scene with
the incoming units, the initial attack crew learned that the homeowner had
exited the structure. A conflict in information still existed as to whether
or not the children had made it out. However crews would later learn that
the children did get out and were with a neighbor up the street.
The homeowner unfortunately did receive several very serious burns while
getting himself and his children out of the fire. The homeowner was rushed
to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga by medics with Hutcheson EMS. The
quick work of the fire crews kept the embers and fire from spreading to
nearby cars and other houses. Walker County Firefighters continued knocking
down hot spots and conducting over haul for several hours into the morning.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. An amount on damages has
not been determined, however the home was totally gutted by the blaze.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
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