Fast Actions by Firefighters Saves Historic Home
02/21/2008
Fresno, CA (February 21, 2008) – A fire sparked I the attic in the second story of a three story historic home at 320 S. Chestnut at 1:48 p.m. Crews arrived in less than four minutes of being dispatched to find smoke and fire in the attic. Crews swiftly squelched the fast moving flames, saving the home built in 1904. Fire investigators later located a wood burning stove on the second floor with a zero clearance chimney flu going through the attic space. Investigator Christine Wilson determined radiant heat from the zero clearance chimney ignited the fire. The fire caused fire damage to the second floor attic area on the north end of the structure. The interior second floor and first floor rooms sustained smoke and water damage. Wilson is ruling the fire accidental.
The home was occupied at the time by one resident who escaped without injury. There are five residents of the home that are displaced. Red Cross is providing assistance.
Value of Structure: 250,000 Loss to Structure: $50,000
Value of Contents: 60,000 Loss to Contents: $8,000
Value Total: 310,000 Loss Total: $58,000
Injuries to Civilians: 0 Injuries to Personnel: 0
Total number of emergency equipment and personnel:
RESOURCE # APPARATUS # PERSONNEL
Engines 4 12
Trucks 2 6
Investigators 1 1
Chief Officers 1 1
Support Staff 1 1
Other
Total 9 21
Fire Safety Tip: “The Fresno Fire Department recommends that a working smoke detector be placed in every room of a home, and reminds you that a fire sprinkler in your home provides the best protection against fire damage.”
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