Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – An aggressive fire attack allowed firefighters to knockdown and snuff out an apartment fire in east Charlotte early Monday evening.

Charlotte Fire Communications received the first of several phone calls at 5:07 PM reporting an apartment fire at 6644 Idlewild Road. While enroute fire crews reported seeing a large column of smoke in the horizon and prepared themselves for the ensuing battle.

Firefighters from nearby Station 3 were first to arrive and reported heavy fire and smoke emitting from the second floor and attic space of a two-story fourplex apartment building.

Crews scurried into action stretching hoselines and searching the building for occupants. A Ladder Company was assigned to provide vertical ventilation by cutting a hole in the roof allowing heat, smoke, and superheated gases to escape.

Firefighters soon gained the upper hand on this well-entrenched fire and knocked down the flames before it could consume the entire attic space. A well-coordinated effort of 31 Charlotte Firefighters resulted in the incident being brought under control in 13 minutes.

A total of 13 occupants were displaced and were assisted by the American Red Cross. Fire Investigators said the fire began in the kitchen of a second floor unit and caused an estimated $200,000 in damage. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – Firefighters stopped a raging fire from destroying an apartment building late Thursday evening October 27^th, 2011 in south Charlotte.

At 10:49 PM Charlotte Fire Communications began receiving multiple phone calls reporting an apartment fire at 5100 Cherrycrest Lane http://g.co/maps/ffywg. Firefighters from nearby Station 12 http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Fire/FireStations/Pages/default.aspx arrived a short time later and reported heavy smoke & fire issuing from the second floor of a large two-story six-unit apartment building.

Observing the heavy and rapidly evolving fire conditions, firefighters immediately summoned for additional resources and mounted an aggressive fire attack. Fire companies scurried into action deploying hoselines and searching the structure to ensure all residents made the exodus from the structure safely.

As the raging flame broke through the roof firefighters were resilient in their efforts to stop the forward progress fire. A well-coordinated effort of 48 Charlotte Firefighters resulted in the knockdown of the fire in less than 30 minutes.

Fire Investigators said the fire began in the kitchen and was caused by food left cooking on the stove http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Fire/Divisions/FireandLifeSafety/Pages/Kitchen%20Fire%20Safety%20Tips.aspx. Damage caused by the fire, smoke, water, and fire control efforts were estimated at $200,000. There were no injuries to report, however at least 6 apartments were affected as a result of this fire.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department