Click here for a WUSA9.com slideshow from the Cherry Drive fire
FireSceneAudio.com has the radio traffic and Virginia’s Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department has the pictures. Gregory Hunter and Matt Cox, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, C-Shift took the images of the two-alarm house fire around Sunday evening at 8610 Cherry Drive in the Providence area of the county.
Here is an excerpt from the press release by PIO Dan Schmidt:
Firefighters encountered heavy fire and smoke bursting through the front and sides of both floors of the home upon arrival. Massive fire was coming from the rear and out of second floor windows when firefighters arrived on scene. The Incident Commander quickly struck a second alarm, bringing over 60 firefighters to the scene. An aerial ladder was used to place large streams of water in the attic and roof area. Firefighters fought the fire from all four sides of the all-brick, two-story home. Firefighters contended with extreme temperatures and black ice while fighting the fire. It took firefighters about an hour to bring the fire under total control. Using defensive measures, firefighters ensured close-by homes were not damaged. No one was home when the fire broke out. Two adults have been displaced. There were no injuries.
Also on STATter911 …
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- UPDATE Haiti rescuers become victims of collapse. Fairfax County fire station in Bailey’s Crossroads buckles under snow. Second firehouse in danger. – February 8, 2010
- Fireground audio & video from Fairfax County mayday during apartment fire. One firefighter dropped from balcony & another lost mask. – February 9, 2010
too much micro-managing and WAYYY too much radio chatter on information already known through the NOVA Regional SOPs…. doesnt’ surprise me the least when fire is showing in the “great” state of Fairfax.
“Outstanding” around….
They went defensive on that. Even Montgomery Co would have put that out from the inside.
Ditto CMG691′s comments. The IC should never have to instruct a split lay or dictate the size of line through the front door. Why would a company in the rear tell the first company to back out so they can “knock it down” from the rear? They probably pushed it throughout the house. Typical Fairfax – can’t even talk a fire out.
The roof is designed to keep water out, imagine that. The trusses that make up that roof operate as a SYSTEM that will still do thier job even if a few get compramised. So, be weary of the “lightweight” construction, but don’t be absolutely petrified of it to where you can’t do a simple mop up job with a handline. Tower Ladders have there place, causing more damage should not be one of them.
Did they really go defensive on a room and contents with a little extension into the attic in about 10 mins into the incident? Why was the 2nd line charged when a water supply wasn’t established and how did they get it set up before E418 even made it through the front door?
were you guys there?
i agree that the IC should of let 18 get some work in, but it was hardly a room and contents tuesday
A complete circus from the inital report from the truck officer with the big eye to the chief with the charlie division. They should play the circus music in the background when they talk about this cluster f_ _ _!!!
I am totally embarrassed by this incident. Where have the real firefighters gone. What kind of people is Fairfax County hiring?
“Command, we have a line in the fire room, is it ok if we try and put the fire out?” What The Frig goes on down there?
It’s amazing how ALL of their fires turn into a defensive operations. Maybe if they didn’t show up with more paramedics than firefighters, this wouldn’t happen. AND STOP MICRO-MANAGING your fires to death. Command needs to shut up and let them put the fires out from THE INSIDE. Most of their good firefighters end up having to ride the ambulances too. Only in Fairfax County. Thank God none of my family live there.