SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS FIRE >>
Story by Nashville FD NC Fire Chief Randy Goodbrod
Fire Photos by Bob Bartosz and Nash County Fire Marshal Chris Bissette
Shortly before 7 p.m. on April 19, 2016, Nash County (NC) 911 Center were receiving calls for a dwelling fire in the 2600 block of Old Bailey Highway. Fire departments from Nashville, Station 14, Coopers, Station 15 and Momeyer, Station 17, and Nash EMS were dispatched.
Fire dispatch informed all companies that they were responding to a working fire with flames coming through the roof.
According to Nashville Fire Chief Randy Goodbrod, upon arrival they encountered a fully involved attached garage to a 1 1/5-story brick dwelling, with fire also in the “B” section of the living area.
The living area of the home excess of 4,000 square feet with approximately 1,000 square feet involved.
Fire command ordered a transitional fire attack. Engine 14 was the first arriving apparatus and lead off with a step gun supplied with a 3-inch line. A second line 2 1/2-inch inch with a 1 1/4-inch smooth bore was pulled to assist in knocking down the bulk of the garage fire with a fully involved car inside. While the exterior attack was in progress, additional crews prepared to enter the structure from side “A”.
Fire fighters used a 2-inch attack line knocking down most of the flames in the kitchen area and stopping the spread of the fire on the lst floor. An additional 1 3/4-inch line was advanced to the second floor to check on possible spread of the fire.
The fire was declared under control 20 minutes after the interior attack had begun.
Being located in the rural area of the fire district a water supply was established utilizing two dump tanks, supplied from a tanker shuttle, from a fire hydrant one and one half miles away. During the first 15 minutes of operation, a fire flow of between 500 and 700 gpm was sustained. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
Approximately 30 percent of the structure was destroyed by fire with the balance having significant smoke and heat damage (no water damage). Automatic aid was provided by the Coopers and Momeyer Fire Departments. A mutual aid tanker from Stanhope Fire Department station 19 assisted as well. West Mount station 4 and Red Oak Fire Departments station 12 provided standby coverage for departments involved in the fire operation.
Damage estimates including the structure, contents, and vehicle are in excess of $500,000.00. The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.
Nashville Fire Chief Randy Goodbrod had high praise for the fire fighters that were fighting this fire. “With the great teamwork that they performed…If it wasn’t for their professional teamwork, we would have been there all night battling this fire. Their quick knock down was just great.”
