![]() PHOTO BY BILL CARSON, www.carsonphotos.net |
Walker County (Ga.) Emergency Services received several 911 calls reporting a possible house fire on Chambers Street near the Rossville Community. Several Walker County fire stations were dispatched to the scene. Within minutes, Walker Engine 2 arrived on the scene and confirmed a working structure fire with involvement and several exposures, including a neighboring house. Firefighters quickly pulled a hoseline and started an aggressive protection barrier between the blaze and the nearby house.
Walker County Fire Chief Randy Camp arrived soon thereafter. Because of the seriousness of the situation, Chief Camp requested an additional alarm and mutual aid from the Rossville Fire Department. Chief Camp then geared up and assisted with firefighting efforts. Within seconds, Walker County Engine 7 arrived on the scene, bringing a supply hose from a nearby fire hydrant. Several additional engine companies also arrived on the scene in short order. Crews quickly pulled two additional hoselines and joined fire extinguishing efforts. Unfortunately, the fire was extremely well seated in the structure, and because of the intense heat and structure instability, an interior attack was out not possible. Firefighters directed all of their efforts at keeping the fire from spreading to exposures and knocking the blaze down from the outside of the structure. Fortunately, because of the aggressive measures taken by the first firefighters on the scene, the nearby house was saved from any serious damage. Additionally, firefighters faced a serious obstacle while attempting to extinguish a detached garage. The garage was believed to have various canisters of gas and combustibles, causing some difficulty with extinguishing efforts. However, firefighters were able to completely extinguish the entire fire after about 45 minutes.
The house was believed by neighbors to be vacant when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by fire officials.