Photo Story: N.C. Townhome Erupts in Flames

Sept. 7, 2014
Fire crews from Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville battled a fire at a townhome complex.

On Aug. 27, at 1:22 p.m. Cornelius Stations 1 and 2, Davidson and Huntersville Station 1 were dispatched for a reported car and motorcycle on fire in a garage on Bailey Rd in Cornelius.

Cornelius Engine 3 and Squad 8 arrived together and found a three-story townhome with heavy fire from the rear of the structure. Deputy Chief Robinette assumed command as crews found fire from the bottom floor, burning up the exterior and over the roof of the third floor with impingement into second and third floor occupancies and the attic. 

Engine 3's crew advanced a 2-inch hoseline and began fire suppression. Davidson Engine 1 advanced a second line to the second and third floors and Cornelius Ladder 4 did a primary search

While extinguishing the fire in the rear crews found that the natural gas line had burned through and they had a gas-fed fire under the balcony. Huntersville Engine 1's crew protected the structure with a 1 3/4-inch line on fog to keep that fire in check until gas company could arrive and control the gas. Crews on scene tried to locate the gas line to clamp it before the gas company arrived but were unsuccessful.

Once the gas company arrived a control time was issued and crews cleared approximately five hours later. The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire.

Additional firefighters from Huntersville Engine 1 checked exposures on both sides for extension. They reported no fire but smoke in conditions in both exposures.?

Units on scene: Cornelius  E-3, L-4, R-4, SQ8
Davidson E-1
Huntersville E-1
Fire Marshals 1100, 1103

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