The Citizen Times
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Problems with pipes designed to carry water from a street hydrant to the fifth floor of a burning medical office building likely delayed firefighters as they battled the deadly blaze, according to Fire Department radio transmissions.
Nearly 25 minutes passed from the time the first trucks left their stations about 12:30 p.m. Thursday until a crew reported they were finally putting water on the blaze at 445 Biltmore Center from a ladder truck.
Firefighters repeatedly made references to a lack of water, even as they reached the fourth floor and made their way toward flames one floor above. “We got no water. No water,” a firefighter on the fourth floor says about 13 minutes into the recording. Fire Department commanders would not comment on the recordings Friday, citing the ongoing investigation into the death of Capt. Jeff Bowen.
Full story: Water pipes hampered crew in fatal Asheville blaze