16/March/2013 – Woods Fires – “B” Shift

Incident # 13-01385 – High winds and dry conditions kept Firefighters and Forestry Wardens busy Saturday afternoon 16-March. The Forestry Commission had issued a Red Flag Alert for the region. The first of the two larger fires occurred at 13:27 in the 11600 block of Augusta Hwy. A person with a debris fire lost control of the of it in the 25 mph winds. The fire burned into a cleared portion of land entering a swamp. Engine 26 arrived to find the rapidly moving fire and requested additional units. Engine 26 and Tender 26 protected several mobile homes and animal shelters behind the structures. Engine 5 protected several structures located at the end of Liberty Lane east of the location. Tender 27 assisted Engine 26 once they arrived. The Forestry Commission responded with two tractors. The bulk of the fire burned away from the homes. The Tractors stopped the advance of the fire north of the location. Approximately 12 acres were involved. Fire-Rescue units were on the scene for over four hours. No homes or animals in the multiple containments were damaged. Forestry units remained on scene to monitor the fire.

Engine 5, Engine 26, Tender 26, Tender 27 and Medic 26 responded. Firefighter-EMT Brian Bishop served as Incident Commander.

Incident # 13-01389 – At 15:57, a car fire at 291 Spelltown Road quickly burned into a wooded area threatening several homes. High winds rapidly spread the flames causing spot fires in multiple locations, spreading in two different directions. Engine 9 and Medic 9 arrived to find the fully involved vehicle and growing woods fire. Additional units and a tractor from the Forestry Commission were requested. Engine 9 extinguished the car fire and protected a residence at 291 Spelltown Road, while the other units stopped the fire that was advancing on a doublewide mobile home north of the location. Battalion 1 arrived and again requested additional units to supplement the crews on the scene. The wind drove the fire through the dry woods causing the fire to crown trough the thick pine trees. Firefighters were positioned at the head of the fire to protect the homes and to attempt the stop the advance into a large broom straw field, which was not accessible to fire apparatus. 

A small subdivision was located on the opposite side of the field, so firefighters feared the fire would quickly reach the homes should the field begin to burn. The Forestry Tractor arrived within minutes of the fire reaching the field and cut a fire line between the wooded area and the broom straw, stopping the advance of the flames. Approximately nine acres were burned, but no homes were damage during the incident. Firefighters were on the scene for three hours.

Engine 9, Engine 11, Engine 19, Engine 24, Tender 9, Tender 903, Tender 19, Tender 27, Brush 2, Brush 9, Brush 24, Medic 9, Medic 19, Car 12, Car 109 and Battalion 1 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.