A call to 911 was received on Sunday, April 13, 2003 at approximately 1430 hours Eden Prairie, MN of a deck on fire. Chief 1 and 3 put in service nearly immediately, followed shortly by L-1, E-4, E-11,E-2 and E-5.
Dispatch stated numerous 911 calls being received and a police squad inticated a "fully engulfed house". Chief 1 began orderring mutual aid while still enroute, initially 2 engines each from neighboring Chanhassen, Minnetonka and Bloomington.
E-4 arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire. Chief 3 arrived right behind E-4 and gave a size-up, " a fully involved large 2 story dwelling with an immediate exposure." Next arriving L-1 was instructed to set up between the two dwellings for exposure protection.
E-11 arrived and supplied the ladder. Initial attack was made to the front exterior then around to the fully involved rear side of the home of origin. The exposure home was breached and found to have heavy fire in the attic.
Interior operations were eventually suspended as the fire burst thru the crown of the roof. It took crews from 6 departments approximately 3 hours to bring it under control.
Eden Prairie responded with 5 engines, 2 heavy rescues, 1 ladder multiple, firefighters and officers. Mutual-aid companies were: Bloomington E7, E5, R1, 2 Chiefs and 12 Firefighters; Chanhassen E11, E211, 1 Chief and 11 Firefighters; Minnetonka E-3, E-4, L-3 and Chief-4 and 14 Firefighters; Hopkins E-2, L-9 C-2 and Battalion 1 and 8 Firefighters. Golden Valley covered the empty stations with 2 engines and 8 firefighters.
Damage estimates were unavailable. No injuries. Cause is being investigated
Eden Prairie is an affluent, suburban community of 50,000+, covering 35.2 square miles located 10 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Eden Prairie is served by 75 paid-call firefighters from 3 stations. Answering 1450 annual calls.
