CCFR February 6 2009

Stations 5, 9, 11, 19 and 27 responded to a structure fire with entrapment at 546 Brocktown Road north of Cottageville at 2224, 6-February. Callers reported a 98 year old female was trapped in the residence. A Cottageville Police Officer arrived about 4 minutes later reporting the home was well involved. She obtained information from bystanders on a possible location of the woman inside the residence and relayed the information to fire units. Witnesses stated, a neighbor by the name of David Green (not our Asst. Chief) broke out several windows in an attempt to locate the 98 year old resident. After not hearing any replies, he went the rear of the burning structure and crawled inside roughly ten feet in an effort to find the woman. He couldn’t breathe due to the smoke and was driven out by the intense heat of the fire. Following his heroic efforts he appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation but denied medical assistance from Firefighter-Paramedics.

Engine 9 arrived within 8 minutes advising the older single story wood frame building was fully involved. According the family members there were no smoke detectors in the house. Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire with two handlines and knocked down the bulk of the fire in about 20 minutes. The fire was under control in less than 45 minutes. Firefighters spent several hours overhauling the scene and extinguishing hot spots. The meticulous process was slow, but a great deal of effort was spent on not disturbing the scene until the woman was found and to preserve as much of the scene as possible until the investigation could be conducted. Firefighters searched the debris and located the woman’s body about a hour later near the center of the home.

Due to a fatality being involved, State Police (SLED) Fire Investigators were asked to assist with the investigation. There was nothing found that would indicate the fire was suspicious, but SLED is always notified on fatality fires due to the resources available to them. SLED Agents arrived around 0215 and worked to process the scene until a little before noon Saturday. They will issue a cause when their investigation is completed. Fire units were on the scene for about 6 hours. The Coroner’s Office responded and transported the body.

Engine 9, Engine 19, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 11, Tender 19, Tender 27,

	Stations 5, 9, 11, 19 and 27 responded to a structure fire with entrapment at 546 Brocktown Road north of Cottageville at 2224, 6-February. Callers reported a 98 year old female was trapped in the residence. A Cottageville Police Officer arrived about 4 minutes later reporting the home was well involved. She obtained information from bystanders on a possible location of the woman inside the residence and relayed the information to fire units. Witnesses stated, a neighbor by the name of David Green (not our Asst. Chief) broke out several windows in an attempt to locate the 98 year old resident. After not hearing any replies, he went the rear of the burning structure and crawled inside roughly ten feet in an effort to find the woman. He couldn’t breathe due to the smoke and was driven out by the intense heat of the fire. Following his heroic efforts he appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation but denied medical assistance from Firefighter-Paramedics. Engine 9 arrived within 8 minutes advising the older single story wood frame building was fully involved. According the family members there were no smoke detectors in the house. Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire with two handlines and knocked down the bulk of the fire in about 20 minutes. The fire was under control in less than 45 minutes. Firefighters spent several hours overhauling the scene and extinguishing hot spots. The meticulous process was slow, but a great deal of effort was spent on not disturbing the scene until the woman was found and to preserve as much of the scene as possible until the investigation could be conducted. Firefighters searched the debris and located the woman’s body about a hour later near the center of the home. Due to a fatality being involved, State Police (SLED) Fire Investigators were asked to assist with the investigation. There was nothing found that would indicate the fire was suspicious, but SLED is always notified on fatality fires due to the resources available to them. SLED Agents arrived around 0215 and worked to process the scene until a little before noon Saturday. They will issue a cause when their investigation is completed. Fire units were on the scene for about 6 hours. The Coroner’s Office responded and transported the body. Engine 9, Engine 19, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 11, Tender 19, Tender 27,
	Medic 9, Medic 19 and Battalion 1 responded. Asst. Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.