Sunday, February 21st at 1:11 PM, Lafayette, and Greenville Township Fire Protection Districts were dispatched to a structure fire located at 3001 Oak Valley Court North located in the Georgetown Township Fire Protection District. Lafayette and Greenville Districts immediately responded with Quad 11, Engine 31, Tanker 35, and 1102 Deputy Chief Terry Herthel.
While en route to the scene, Deputy Chief Herthel could see smoke coming from the location and requested that a water tanker from Lanesville Fire Department be dispatched to the scene as well. Deputy Chief Herthel Arrived on the scene six minutes after the dispatch and found a working fire coming from the second story of the structure that had vented. Deputy Chief Herthel was met outside by the homeowner and the family. Georgetown Fire Protection District’s Engine 2 arrived on the scene with four personnel 7 minutes after the dispatch and began entering the home for fire suppression. Assistant Chief 1203 and apparatus from Lafayette and Greenville FPD arrived on the scene a few minutes after Engine 2, and crews started their efforts to suppress the fire.
Crews could extinguish a majority of the fire but not before water supply became an issue due to a frozen cap on the fire hydrant nearby. The cap on the fire hydrant was opened after much effort, and a water supply from the hydrant was established. A second alarm was transmitted during the operation, and New Chapel Fire Company Ladder 49 and Lafayette Township FPD Rescue 1 responded.
The homeowner suffered minor burns and some smoke inhalation while trying to extinguish the fire in the home. Two pets were able to be found alive in the house, but no word on their conditions.
14 Crew Members from Lafayette and Greenville firehouses were on the scene for over 4 hours and 30 minutes for extinguishment, salvage, and overhaul. Greenville firehouse had a crew of 4 firefighters on the station. The Lafayette firehouse had a crew of 4 firefighters on station to cover for other calls that may have come in throughout the County. The Salvation Army of New Albany responded with their Canteen truck to keep the firefighters warm and hydrated during the operation.
The Cause of the fire is under investigation.
