19/February/2014 – Woods Fires – “C” Shift
Incident # 14-01137 and 14-01141 – At 13:09, Wednesday 19-February, 9-1-1 began receiving reports of a rapidly moving woods and grass fire in the field behind Academy Road Baptist Church in the 300 block of Academy Road. An off-duty firefighter who lives near the location verified the fire was quickly growing and endangering several homes. He requested a structural response, adding additional resources to the incident. High winds and dry conditions helped spread the fire in several directions, setting two storage buildings and a long wooden privacy fence on the west side of the field on fire. Four homes along Willow Court were endangered as the fire entered the back yards. The flames raced across the open grass field quickly reaching several yards on the east side of the field, setting items in the yards on fire and burning up to the homes and underneath one mobile home. Deputy Chief Greene arrived and took Command of the incident, requesting a second alarm as the fire reached a wooded area and continued spreading north toward Lemon Road. Less than ten minutes later a third alarm was assigned to the incident due to the number of endangered homes. Some residents were evacuated from their houses as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
A Forestry Tractor was also requested to assist. As
additional units arrived, apparatus was positioned around the perimeter of
the fire to protect homes and a mobile home supply business. Three
Fire-Rescue and one Forestry brush unit were also used. Firefighters got
enough units to the head of the fire to stop it as the flames reached the
business. They were able to prevent the flames from destroying the many
items and building materials stored outside of the business. The fire was
brought under control within 40 minutes, but fire units were on the scene
for over two hours extinguishing hot stops and overhauling the burned
storage buildings. Approximately six acres was burned. The fire began due to
an electrical transformer exploding which ignited the grass. The high winds
quickly spread the fire.
Engine 1, Engine 5, Engine 9, Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 26, Engine 27, Engine 34, Engine 36, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Brush 2, Brush 8, Brush 24, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 107, Car 110 and Car 111 responded. Deputy Chief Greene and Firefighter-EMT Brian Bishop operated the Command Post.
As units were being released from the Academy Road fire a
second woods fire was reported at 14:42. The caller indicated the fire was
endangering two homes off of the 100 block of Red Dog Lane. Firefighters
arrived to find an approximately 1 acre grass and woods fire that was
burning underneath one mobile home and burning within feet of a second
mobile home. Engine 34 deployed one 1-3/4 handline and knocked down the fire
under the first mobile home, then extinguished the fire next to the second
residence. Engine 24 responded to a field east of the location and stopped
the flames in the woods before they reached a grass field. Firefighters
spent 20 minutes continuing the fire and another 30 minutes extinguishing
the remaining flames. A pump house and several yard items were destroyed,
but no homes were damaged.
Engine 12, Engine 24, Engine 27
and Engine 34 responded. Engine 27 was diverted to another fire on
Hendersonville Highway as it arrived on the scene. Firefighter-EMT-I James
Varnadoe served as Incident Commander.
