Va. Fire Chief Injured by Downed Power Line at Blaze
Source The Roanoke Times, Va.
A fire Tuesday night destroyed one mobile home, damaged another and left the Buchanan fire chief seriously injured.
The fire was reported about 7:10 p.m. on Albemarle Street. While fighting the flames, Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department Chief Billy Joe Carter was shocked by a downed power line. He remains hospitalized today.
A second mobile home, from which two dogs were rescued, received some smoke and water damage.
Carter said today he was suffering some residual paralysis on his right side and was having trouble walking. He said he anticipated spending another night at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
He said he has some feeling on his right side and is hopeful for a full recovery.
Carter said an insulated power line broke loose at the scene, fell across his back, interacted with water and arced to his left calf.
The electrical shock knocked him down, Carter said.
But he continued to fight the fire, as did volunteers from departments in Buchanan, Fincastle and Troutville.
Carter said unfavorable weather conditions and the proximity of several other mobile homes and power lines made the fire a challenge to fight.
"That's probably one of the roughest fires I've been involved in," he said.
An occupant of the trailer fled without shoes and escaped injury after discovering fire and smoke in a portion of the home. Carter identified him as Todd Hickman, a longtime member of the Buchanan VFD. He said he believes Hickman was the home's lone occupant at the time of the fire and has found refuge with a relative.
The fire is believed to have had electrical origins and there was no sign of foul play, said Botetourt County sheriff's Maj. Delbert Dudding.
Copyright 2012 - The Roanoke Times, Va.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
