House Fire on Lafayette
 
By Assistant Chief Tom Wood
February 18, 2014
 

At approximately 0200, units from Stonewall, Manassas City, Manassas Park, Yorkshire, Bristow, Evergreen, and Buckhall were dispatched to Box 1112 for a reported house fire on Lafayette Avenue. The caller reported a fire in a bedroom. T511 arrived on the scene in less than 5 minutes and reported fire showing from second floor windows. The homeowner was in the front yard attacking the fire with a garden hose, and he reported everyone was out and safe.

As E511 turned onto the block, a power line separated from the house and dropped across the street, behind T511 and blocking E511’s planned layout to a nearby hydrant. E511 reported the power line and started looking for an alternate hydrant while the firefighter stretched a line to the front of the house. E501 laid from a hydrant on a cross street and supplied E511. BC504Z (Nuar) arrived and established command, requesting the power company.

T511’s officer completed a walkaround finding fire in one bedroom extending on the second floor with heavy black smoke rolling from the front door. With no one inside, E511 made a quick initial exterior attack to knock down the bulk of the fire. T511 and E511 then followed up with an aggressive interior attack, supported by E501 and E508B. T511’s driver and TWR501’s outside vent man opened the roof, while TWR501 placed several additional ladders. E509’s driver picked up E501’s line and dug out the hydrant, while the rest of the crew staffed RIT and supported operations.

A511 conducted rehab, supported by A508 and Canteen 524.

At 0229 the fire was reported under control. Units remained on the scene until 0530 conducting overhaul and assisting the Fire Marshal’s Office.

 
Units: E511, T511, A511
 
Mutual Aid: E501, E509, E508B, E525, TWR501, R501, BC504Z, BC501Z, BC581, BC582, C501, A508, CAN524, FM503, FM517, FM523, FM525