Sitting in my house earlier tonight, minding our own business as usual in our quiet little town. Heard some sirens outside and saw 2 cars and a fire engine too. Thought was an accident as there is a court across from our house. I stepped outside to see if I could help as I have been a volunteer fireman/EMT for over 15 years. I smelled smoke and then realized the engine was laying out hose to the hydrant and pulling an attack line 2 doors up on my side of the street! As we live in a more rural county, there were not a lot of extra equipment nor people on the scene yet. Realizing the crew did not have enough people, my fire instincts kicked in. I helped the crew finish pulling the first attack line and helped flake it out so would not kink up. They ended up starting to pulling a secondary line and I virtually pulled the line myself and brought it to the door for their backup line (larger diameter too). I even yelled to the engine pump operator to "charge the lines" (fill with water) as he did not hear the guy that was putting on his mask yell that he was ready for the water to begin his attack. I ended up standing right at the front door and helped pull the attack line inside the house as the crew with the gear went inside. I was even able to walk around the outside of the house to see where the smoked was coming from. Was a basement fire and was blowing out the side of the house. The attack crew initially went upstairs as that is where a majority of smoke was coming from. I knew they had not found the fire yet, so I went back to the front door and yelled "BASEMENT FIRE" loud as I could 2 times (and I am loud). The attack crew asked for the secondary line as the first was caught upstairs, so I ended up handing him the second attack line and pull inside the house also. They were able to find it and knocked the fire down within a minute. Took several minutes to extinguish the blaze. All the people living there were out of the house. No one was injured including the volunteer fire fighters that were on the scene. If I had to guess, probably $150,000 in damage between the house itself and the house contents could go higher depending on how much stuff was inside as I do not know exactly.
Anyway, I smell like smoke and my adrenalin flowed like a mad-dog for about half an hour afterwords. We offered to take the family to our home which includes Mom, Dad and three daughters. Lucky they have some family close by and will be staying there for the night.
Be safe.
Anyway, I smell like smoke and my adrenalin flowed like a mad-dog for about half an hour afterwords. We offered to take the family to our home which includes Mom, Dad and three daughters. Lucky they have some family close by and will be staying there for the night.
Be safe.
