Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – Firefighters were able to save a war veteran’s most priced military possessions after a fire tore through his north Charlotte home.

On Wednesday March 7^th, 2012 just before 6 PM (6) Companies of Charlotte Firefighters, (1) Heavy Rescue Company, and (2) Battalion Chiefs were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1926 Academy Street. Crews from nearby Station 15 were first to arrive and reported heavy fire & smoke emitting from a 1-story house.

A well-coordinated fire attack by (27) Firefighters resulted in the knockdown of the flames and the incident being brought under control in 13 minutes. The family residing in the home expressed their gratitude for the efforts crews made to salvage many military items belonging to one of the occupants, an Iraqi war veteran.

The fire began in a closet and was caused by a faulty furnace. The fire caused extensive damage estimated at $50,000 and the family of (4) was displaced. The Red Cross was summoned to the scene to assist the family with temporary housing and other immediate needs.

Charlotte NC – A family of (5) were displaced after a fire ripped through their Eastover home early Monday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure at 1332 Biltmore Drive just before 1 AM. A crew from Fire Station 6 was first on scene and reported heavy smoke and fire conditions involving a 2-story house. Firefighters sprinted into action initiating an aggressive fire attack on a well-entrenched fire.

The raging fire posed a threat to the home on the north side of the fire and matters were further exacerbated as a propane tank burned between the homes. The persistence of (27) Firefighters resulted in the knockdown of the fire and the incident being brought under control in (31) minutes.

The fire began in a laundry room and the cause was likely related to the dryer vent. Damage was estimated at $185,000. A family of (5) was displaced, however no injuries were reported. A working smoke alarm is credited with alerting the family of the family and allowing them to escape unharmed.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – 5 Family members were injured when their vehicle overturned at I-485 and Oakdale Road Sunday afternoon.

At 2:19 PM (3) Companies of Charlotte Firefighters, (1) Heavy Rescue Company, and (1) Battalion Chief were summoned to a reported traffic collision with persons trapped in a vehicle. Firefighters from Station 33 were first to arrive and reported (5) patients, some who were trapped in an overturned vehicle and others who had been ejected from the same vehicle.

Because of the severity of the injuries and number of patients a medical helo evac was requested from Med Center Air. Officers from the North Carolina Highway Patrol and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department closed a portion of I-485 to facilitate a landing zone for Med Center Air. A well-coordinated technical rescue by (18) Firefighters resulted in the triage, treatment, and transport of (5) patients.

(4) Family members were transported by ground and (1) juvenile family member was transported by helicopter with what was described as potentially life-threatening injuries.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – A firefighter was injured while battling a house fire in south Charlotte Saturday evening March 3^rd, 2012.

Just before 9:30 PM firefighters were summoned to a reported structure fire at 7304 Willesden Lane in Piper Glen. Crews from Station 24 were first on scene and reported nothing visible from the exterior of a 2-story house. After a quick investigation, firefighters reported a working fire in the crawl space that had extended into the kitchen of the approximately 4000 square foot home.

Crews quickly initiated suppression efforts to stop the forward progress of the fire deploying hoselines and searching the structure. Firefighter Vince Wolfe was injured when he fell down a stairwell while searching the home. Fellow firefighters came to his aid and assisted him in exiting the home. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital with what was described as non-life-threatening injuries, treated and later released.

A well-coordinated fire attack by (6) Fire Companies, (1) Heavy Rescue Company, and (2) Battalion Chiefs resulted in bringing the fire under control in (25) minutes. The fire began in the crawl space of the home and the cause was determined to be electrical in nature. Monetary damage estimates were unavailable at the time of this report. A family of four self-evacuated from the home and were displaced as a result of the fire.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department

Charlotte NC – A lightning strike set a home ablaze at 400 Lockley Drive Saturday evening March 3^rd, 2012.

Firefighters were dispatched to a house fire after a neighbor reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the house next door. Firefighters from nearby Station 14 were first to arrive and reported heavy fire and smoke emitting from the garage and the attic space of a 5,132 square foot two-story house.

Crews made haste to engage a well-entrenched fire deploying multiple hoselines and searching the home for occupants. During suppression efforts a firefighter became entrapped in the attic, however he was freed by fellow firefighters and was not injured. A well-coordinated fire attack by (32) Firefighters resulted in the knockdown of the flames and bringing the incident under control in one hour and fourteen minutes.

The fire began in the garage and a lightning strike was determined to be the cause of fire. Damage from fire, smoke, water, and fire control was estimated at nearly $1,000,000. There were no injuries to report.

Eternally committed to duty and service,

Mark Basnight

Public Information Officer

Office of Media and Public Affairs

Charlotte Fire Department