Santa Maria's Bravest knocked down a smoky structure fire on the early evening of Wednesday, April 6.
Multiple calls were received around 7:30 p.m. for a fire in the rear of a residence in the 1300 block of S. Wallis Ave. Engines 2, 4 and 3, Truck 1 and Battalion 211 were on the first alarm. Engine 2 was finishing up from another run and reported smoke showing from a distance. Heavy smoke was pushing across the neighborhood, attracting curious onlookers from several blocks around. First arriving park rangers and SMPD units reported one bedroom fully involved and were evacuating exposures.
Once on scene, Engine 2 stretched a line for fire attack, while Truck 1 went to the roof to ventilate. Engines 3 and 4 arrived and assisted with fire attack, exposures and securing utilities. B 211 assumed command of the incident.
Heavy fire was blowing out of one window on the "D" side, catching a wooden fence on fire, which was quickly contained. The fire was in an added section of the house, so crews had to enter the main house, stretch a line to the rear and then begin fire attack. The fire was knocked down in a short time, limiting damage to the house of origin, and an adjacent fence on the "D" exposure side.
In total, six adults and three children were displaced. Smoke detectors alerted the occupants to the fire. No injuries were reported to firefighters or civilians. Units remained on the scene for overhaul and investigation. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
