Charlotte Fire Department

On July 29^th, 2010 at 4:40 p.m. (7) companies of Charlotte Firefighters, (2) Battalion Chiefs, and (2) fire investigators responded to reports of a house fire with a person trapped at 4044 Whitehall Drive. Firefighters from nearby Station 10 were first to arrive at 4:45 p.m. and reported heavy fire & smoke showing from a 1-story single family home.

Firefighters sprinted into action by advancing hose lines into the structure to engage in a firefight. Fire crews encountered ‘Collier’s Mansion’ conditions which forced them to maneuver around an excessive amount of furnishing and obstructions. The excessive amount of content also prolonged search and overhaul operations. Thirty-one firefighters were summoned to knockdown the fire and gain control in 8 minutes, but not before the fire caused significant damage. During fire suppression activities, two firefighters were injured when a canine bit a firefighter and another firefighter suffered a heat related illness. Both were treated and were able to return to duty.

Two of the three residents were home at the time of the fire. One was treated on scene and transported to Carolinas Medical Center for smoke inhalation; the other was treated on scene, but not transported. All three will be displaced as a result of the fire, which caused an estimated $25,000 - $30,000 in damage. Fire Investigators say, the cause of this fire was electrical in nature and accidental.

Stay Alert, Stay Safe, Stay Alert,

On July 28^th, 2010 at 12:43 p.m. (7) companies of Charlotte Firefighters, (2) Battalion Chiefs, and (2) fire investigators responded to a reported apartment fire at 1814 Burnette Avenue. Firefighters from nearby Station 17 arrived at 12:47 p.m. and reported heavy fire & smoke showing from a two-story apartment building.

Firefighters quickly sprung into action and advanced hose lines into the structure in an attempt to extinguish the flames. Fire crews encountered high heat conditions while engaging in this firefight, so firefighters initiated vertical ventilation operations and opened the roof of the structure with vent saws to allow heat, smoke, and super-heated gases to escape. A quick search of the fire apartment and the adjacent unit proved to be negative and no injuries associated with this fire were reported.

Thirty-one firefighters were summoned to knockdown this fire and bring it under control in 11 minutes. Two apartments were deemed uninhabitable as the result of this blaze. One unit suffered extensive smoke and fire damage and the other significant smoke and water damage, totally approximately $50,000. Two families were displaced. Fire Investigators say, a child playing with fireworks caused the fire.

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On July 27^th, 2010 between the hours of 6:14 p.m. and 10 p.m., Charlotte Firefighters responded to approximately 159 calls. Forty-six calls were directly related to severe weather, which rolled through Charlotte Metropolitan area for more than 3 hours. Firefighters were kept busy as thunderstorm cells caused multiple lightning strikes to structures and several flash flood events causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage.

One of the lightning strikes sparked a house fire at 7405 Tripper Lane in south Charlotte and required a 2^nd Alarm response of firefighters to knockdown the fire and gain control. The homeowners were away from their residence at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported to civilians or firefighters. The fire caused extensive damage estimated at over $100,000. Fire Investigators said, a second structure fire at 3912 Langhorne Avenue was caused by an electrical malfunction, which may have been caused by the residual effects of a lightning strike. Twenty-seven firefighters were called to knockdown this fire and bring it under control in 19 minutes. Two adults were displaced as a result of this fire, which caused an estimated $75,000. There were no injuries reported referencing this incident.

Your friends at the Charlotte Fire Department would like to offer these thunderstorm preparedness tips:

• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for the latest weather forecasts.
• Avoid using telephones or any electrical appliance.