| Fire destroys home on Disharoon |
 |
 |
Pickens, Dawson, Big Canoe fire fighters respond to call
|
|
| The Disharoon fire flared up again at 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Photos by Barb and Bill Kelly. |
By Laura Link
llink@bigcanoenews.com
Article updated 3 p.m., Sunday, May 17, 2009
Update 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Friday 8120 Disharoon house fire flared up again in full force at 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Fire equipment was again called out to extinguish the stubborn flames that won’t give up.
Fire personnel from Big Canoe and Dawson Station 6 returned to the scene and again with a thermal imaging camera searched the remains to find the source. Nothing showed on camera according to Big Canoe firefighters Lincoln Hett and Eric Lindblom. The fire had been completely put out Friday afternoon and hot spots were extinguished as they appeared through the night and Saturday morning.
An engine will stay on Disharoon for the next 24-48 hours according to Hett to let the fire completely burn the three- story five bedroom house to the foundation. Lindblom said 30,000 gallons of water had been used initially to extinguish the fire and by Sunday afternoon another 30,000 gallons had been applied to the smoldering rubble.
The property owners, Nancy and Mike Gallagher, were not present Friday morning when smoke was first sighted.
The first fire call went out to Pickens 911 at 10:26 a.m. At 10:37 a.m. Rescue 6 from Dawson’s Station 6 across from the North Gate was on the scene and assumed command.
Engines from Big Canoe as well as Pickens stations 5, 9 and 11 responded and a joint command was established with Pickens and Dawson County fire departments at 11:15 a.m.
Fire personnel in training at the clubhouse
Big Canoe firefighters along with rescue 6 personnel from Dawson County were in the middle of a training session at the Sconti Clubhouse when the first call went out. The resident who spotted the first smoke did so with a pair of binoculars from another part of Big Canoe and was unable to pinpoint the exact location.
At 11:15 a.m. both Pickens and Dawson Counties assumed joint command and fought the fire in a defensive manner to try to save the surrounding homes. Battalion chief Robbie Lee from Dawson County and Pickens fire chief Bob Howard were both on the scene. The house is located in Pickens County and there is a reciprocal agreement between the counties and Big Canoe. Chief Howared said the counties worked together in a very professional manner. He said there were 18 firefighters on the scene with engines from Dawson station 6, Pickens stations 11 and 5 and Big Canoe's engines. No injuries occurred.
BCERT personnel directed traffic and volunteer firefighters were on hand. A rehab truck from Big Canoe provided water, cooling apparatus for the firefighters and the Sconti kitchen sent food to the men on the fire line. Firefighters praised the efforts of all involved.
Fire Extinguished in the afternoon
Pickens dispatch records show the fire was out at 1:24 p.m. A Big Canoe truck will remain on the scene Friday night and into Saturday morning putting out hot spots as they pop up.
The fire began on the backside of the house located down a steep drive, making it hard for firefighters to get to the rear of the burning structure. Chief Howard said water was plentiful and they were using 1,000 gallons per minute and still had plenty to spare.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbor homes but not totally consuming the Big Canoe home that was a second dwelling for the Gallaghers.
At the scene Mrs. Gallagher told firemen that a workman had been in the house earlier in the week. Smoke Signals Online was unable to reach the Gallaghers for comment.
Chief Howard said the cause is under investigation. The house, too unstable to enter after the fire was out, will be investigated by the fire marshal later.
|
| A Pickens County fire engine suffered a mishap of two flat tires at the scene of the fire Friday on Disharoon. The driver failed to pull all the chock blocks from the tires before moving the truck. |