Richmond's Bravest were toned out around 0630 hours on Jan 14, 2008 to 1606 Fairfax Ave for a possible structure fire.
Rescue Co. 3 arrived on scene and reported heavy smoke showing from a single story bungalow.
"Firefighters discovered an elderly woman on the porch suffering from severe smoke inhalation," said Lt Mike Oprandy. "She was immediately removed to the front yard where EMS began to treat her."
The senior citizen told firefighters her daughter was still inside the burning house.
Rescue 3 then shifted into rescue mode. Lt. Mike Oprandy said that members of Rescue 3 entered the house without a hose line to conduct a primary search for the daughter.
Quint 13 (Tower) arrived seconds behind Rescue 3 and deployed a 1 3/4 attack line to the first floor to protect the search crews and contain the fire.
Oprandy said that in zero visibility, Rescue Co. 3 members Greg Mundie and Tim Butler found a female victim in the rear of the house.
Mundie and Butler removed the victim and began CPR in the front yard with the assistance of Richmond Ambulance. Although the victim was still unconscious and burned, firefighters were able to regain a pulse. The patient was transported to MCV hospital.
Officials said the fire was contained to a room in the rear of the house and was quickly contained by the first arriving companies.
There were no working smoke detectors in the house. The cause is under investigation.
