Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – An off-duty Firefighter is credited with alerting a sleeping couple of a fire burning in their home on New Year’s Day.

The day began like most for Charlotte Firefighter Henry Calle. He was relieved from duty at Fire Station 31 and began his familiar trek home early Sunday morning just before 7:30 AM. While traveling Mallard Creek Road, the smell of smoke caught Calle’s attention and almost simultaneously he observed smoke out of the corner of his eye. Henry turned his vehicle around and headed in the direction of the smoke. Within moments he arrived at 9916 Mallard Creek Road and observed heavy smoking issuing from the attic of the 2-story home.

Calle called 911 and alerted them of a working structure fire, however he was unable to verify whether anyone was in the residence. Henry ran to the front of the home where he feverishly knocked on the door. He heard a dog barking, however, there was no answer.

Instinctively Calle grabbed a rake found in the yard and after finding the front door blocked, he used the rake to break a window. He reached in the window, moved the couch and made entry into the burning home. The couple living in the home was awakened by the breaking glass and was greeted by Henry (still in uniform) who identified himself as a Charlotte Firefighter. Calle informed the couple of the fire in the attic of their home and escorted them to safety.

On-duty Firefighters joined their colleague minutes later and were able to knockdown the fire and bring the incident under control in 21 minutes. Fire Investigators said the fire began in the attic and the cause was electrical in nature. Damage estimates stand at $15,000.

Because of his observant, instinctive, and heroic actions personal injury was certainly averted. Henry Calle is a probationary Firefighter who joined the ranks of the Charlotte Fire Department in March of 2011. When asked why he willingly risked his own personal safety not knowing whether anyone was in the burning home, Calle said, “This is what we (firefighters) do, I just happened to be off-duty.”

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs