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Photos by Bob Bartosz, Nash County (NC) Fire Photographer
Story by Brian Mutzabaugh, Fire Chief, Whitakers (NC) Volunteer Fire Department
On the morning of Friday, September 7, 2018. Whitakers Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 42 N. Whitfield Ct., Whitakers, in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Automatic aid was dispatched from Battleboro Community Volunteer Fire Department, Leggett Volunteer Fire Department, and Enfield Volunteer Fire Department. Salem Volunteer Fire Department was requested mutual aid shortly after the initial dispatch for additional manpower. Additionally, Edgecombe County EMS, Edgecombe County Fire Marshall’s Office, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Department, and Dominion Power responded to assist. Castalia Volunteer Fire Department, Red Oak Volunteer Fire Department, and City of Rocky Mount Fire Department conducted move-ups to cover open fire districts.
Due to high temperatures with heat indexes nearing 100 degrees during the incident, command requested Red Oak Volunteer Fire Department and City of Rocky Mount respond to provide additional manpower later in the incident, allowing first-alarm personnel to rehab. Engine 10, from Whitakers Volunteer Fire Department, arrived on scene in less than five minutes and reported a double-wide mobile home with heavy fire throughout and a partial roof collapse in the center of the structure. A 5-inch supply line was laid from a hydrant approximately 300 feet away.
The first crew attempting to enter the A-side door found a severely weakened floor, which slowed progress significantly. An additional line was deployed to the C side, where a search was conducted and an interior attack of the eastern half of the structure was initiated. Personnel on the A side deployed a ground ladder at a window near the A-B corner where an interior attack of the western half of the structure was carried out. Enfield Volunteer Fire Department was able to deploy their aerial device to assist in extinguishing fire in void spaces around the area of the roof collapse.
No injuries involving suppression personnel or citizens were reported. The origin and cause of the fire is currently still be investigated by the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Dept. We thank everyone who responded for their assistance.
BRIAN MUTZABAUGH is a 22-year veteran of the fire service and, since 2011, chief of the Whitakers (NC) Volunteer Fire Department. He is also an engineer with the Rocky Mount Fire Department, assigned to Rescue 2. He is a qualified level 2 instructor with the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and is a fire service instructor for Nash Community College.
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