The Charlottesville FD battled a two-alarm blaze and pulled an elderly woman from the smoke filled, burning home.
The tone came in 10:54 a.m. Wednesday, January 7, on a structure fire. Responding Units were Engines 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7-Ladder 1, C1, C2, BC3, BC5, BC6, Special Ops 1 and Air Utility. Total on scene; five engines, one ladder, six chief officers, two ambulances, and one EMS duty officer. Chief 2 initiated second alarm while units were en route.
Deputy Chief Charles Werner ( C2) arrived first on the scene and had this report, "two story dwelling with fire showing first floor side four with heavy smoke conditions throughout. Chief 2 assuming Lexington Avenue Command. Next in Chief Officer establish Operations."
"Shortly after we arrived, Fire Alarm transmitted the emergency radio signal indicating that an individual was possibly trapped inside the structure," Deputy Chief Charles Werner said.
Interior attack on fire proceeded using a 1-3/4 inch attack line and Bullard Thermal Image camera. Back up lines and RIT team were in place.
Exterior ventilation occurred simultaneous and coordinated with attack teams once handlines were in position. Positive pressure ventilation was initiated. Engine 2's crew made the initial attack. They were facing fire conditions and zero visibility upon entering the first floor.
The house was a balloon frame structure and with concerns of fire spreading to upper levels, ladder company personnel began to open up floors and pull ceilings to insure fire extension was controlled. After a quick knockdown of the fire an immediate search for the victim began.
In approximately five minutes after entry, Captain Robbie Bragg of Engine 2 located the victim in the kitchen area, quickly removing her through a back door on side three.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad EMS received the victim as the firefighters exited the house. They provided aid immediately with intubation occurring. The victim was alive.
The 75-year-old woman was suffering was smoke inhalation, burns on her face and arms. It appeared that the trachea was not damaged by her burns. She was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center -Trauma/Burn Center. She remains there in intensive care in critical condition.
Fire was isolated to the interior living room near the front door. Heavy heat and smoke conditions were present throughout the remaining areas of the structure.
The fire was marked under control at 11:30 a.m. Value of the house was estimated at $225,000, damage estimated at $75,000. No smoke detector was found in the home. The cause is under investigation by the Charlottesville Fire Marshal.
"The City of Charlottesville FD has a free smoke detector program," said Deputy Chief Charles Werner. "Over the past seven years we have installed over 700 smoke detectors. The city of Charlottesville has also benefited from this program with seven years of zero fire deaths."
"With this fire, the thermal imaging camera made all the difference. It was paramount in the quick location of the victim. Without it, it's difficult to estimate how long it would have taken and the outcome would have been very different. Every in-service fire engine/ladder company in the Charlottesville FD is equipped with at least one thermal imaging camera. One goal of the CFD is to have a thermal imaging camera assigned to every firefighter that will be making an interior fire attack," Werner said.
