With high winds and big gusts firefighters statewide as well as locally had been on alert all day, on March 5,2007. Their preparedness paid off, when at 1148 hours on Monday the call came in to 911 for a house fire at 5100 West Hundred Road.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find the residence fully engulfed with the wind throwing huge embers into the nearby woods, sparking a fast spreading brush fire. Smoke from both fires billowed across West Hundred and Route 10 Roads obscuring the view for motorists. Chesterfield Police Officers re-routed traffic until the fire was under control.
Firefighters received a big challenge when the closest fire hydrant didn't work. Long hoses were stretched to another street to supply firefighters with the desperately needed water. Officials said the resident was burning trash when the house ignited. The wind fueled the fire causing it to spread even faster, then taking chunks of embers and throwing them into the woods the brush fire erupted.
Firefighters from Station 1 ( Chester), Station 14 (Dutch Gap), Station 17 ( Centralia), Station 18 (River's Bend), Station 15 ( Airport) and Station 11 (Dale) battled the determined fire. After the fire was knocked down with water, firefighters used Class A foam to cover the possible flare up spots.
A Red Flag fire alert was in effect for much of the day in central and eastern Virginia. Virginia also has a spring burning law in effect. It states that burning is illegal until 4 pm daily if the fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass.
The Red Cross is assisting the resident. The home was a total loss
