Late Night House Fire on 5th Avenue

On Wednesday, April 17th at 2321 hrs, Caroline Communications struck the 3-2 box for the house fire in the area of South 5th Avenue and Legion Road, alerting Stations 300, 400 & 600. 

Engine 302 (Assistant Chief Sefton) was advised that the caller reported smoke coming from the large house at the end of Legion Road.  Ambulance 391 (EMS Captain Hodges) arrived and advised smoke showing.  Tower 310 (Fireman Baer) and Chief 3 (Deputy Chief Higgs) arrived shortly thereafter and D/C Higgs established "5th Avenue Command", confirming the report: a 3 story balloon frame with smoke showing from the 3rd floor.  Engine 302's crew stretched a line to the 3rd floor and began attacking the fire, encountering high heat conditions and zero visibility.  Engine 304 (Captain Gill) arrived and was assigned interior ventilation, assisting the Tower Crew which were ventilating from the exterior. 

Once the fire was knocked down and adequately ventilated, a large hole was discovered on the 3rd floor and numerous areas of fire remained between the cedar shakes and the 2 layers of asphalt shingles, as well as in the original soffits.  Engine 604 advanced a line to the 2nd floor, underneath the hole to check for extension.  Once the 2nd floor was cleared, 604 repositioned their line to the 3rd floor to assist with mop-up.   Engines 401 and 405 stretched lines and attacked the exterior portions of the soffit that were unreachable from the interior.  Units completed extensive overhaul and cleared the scene at nearly 2:30am. 

Units on Scene: E-302, E-304, TW-310, R-300, C-3, U-308, A-391, E-401, E-405, C-4, E-604, U-608, PM-13, State Fire Marshall.