Engine, Squad, and Two Chiefs Respond to Urbana House Fire
By Captain Matthew Thews
May 14, 2018
On Monday May 14th at 1900 hours, Box 23-7 was alerted for a house fire in the 8300 block of Sharon Drive in Urbana. Just after initial dispatch, the assignment was upgraded to a house fire with persons trapped. Co.23 arrived to find a single story home with smoke showing and one occupant reported trapped. They went to work stretching lines and beginning a search. E152 (Lt. Williamson), C15-1 (DFC Kennedy), and C15-3 (AFC Bowles) responded on the rapid intervention dispatch with 5 volunteers. Tower 23's crew successfully located and removed one occupant from the home, transferring the patient to EMS crews upon their exit from the home. C15-3 and E152 reported to the basement on arrival per command and worked on fire extinguishment. RS15 (Lt. Thews) was alerted on to assist as an air unit on the assignment and responded with an additional 3 volunteers. Crews worked for a couple hours on fire extinguishment and overhaul, while RS15 filled numerous SCBA cylinders. A tanker task force was a also requested by command due to the rural water supply operations needed to extinguish the fire.