Virginia Beach -- On July 19, the crew of Engine 19 was greeted with two fully involved town homes in the 2000 block of Lyndora Road just after 3 p.m. Captain Southall requested a second alarm as a strong wind was blowing the fire into a third town home.
The crew of Engine 19 wrapped the hydrant and laid-in. They took up a position on Side B and engaged their telesquirt.
Personnel of Ladder 16 arrived and took up a position of Side A. They raised their aerial and began flowing a master stream. As additional units arrived and supplied the attack truck, firefighters deployed numerous hand lines. Incident Commander Battalion Chief Wade rotated crews with temperatures hovering near 100. The fire was controlled within 45 minutes. One firefighter was slightly injured.
A smoke detector alerted a woman inside one of the homes, and she was able to evacuate her three children. Public Information Officer Battalion Chief Hutcheson credits the detector for their safe escape."It played a role in saving lives," Hutcheson said.
The Red Cross responded to assist. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
