Story and photos by Becky Robinette Wright
A regular Saturday morning turned tragic on March 2, 2007, in the community of Ettrick in Chesterfield County, Virginia. At 0634 hours, Chesterfield County firefighters responded to calls about a possible structure fire at 3601 Totty Street. As crews were responding, information began coming into dispatch that revealed a dangerous scenario: Residents, perhaps children, were trapped in a house that was quickly becoming engulfed in flames.
Initial dispatch included three engines, one aerial ladder truck, the Tactical Safety Officer and Battalion Two Chief.
A Chesterfield County police officer who had arrived on scene first made an attempt at entry and was unable to enter the dwelling. First on-scene fire crews were from Ettrick Station 12, who reported heavy fire and heavy smoke.
Command declared the operation in rescue mode because of the possibly of trapped victims. Upon arrival of additional resources, RIT was established.
A firefighter attempted to enter the home and faced low-visibility conditions from the heavy smoke and also extreme heat. The firefighter and police officer set up a system in which the firefighter entered the dwelling while the police officer stood outside at the door calling out, giving the firefighter a landmark to guide him out. The firefighter was able to locate an 11-year-old victim and pull her out. She was transported to a local hospital.
A passerby assisted one adult who was climbing out a window to escape and notified 911 of the fire.
The fire was marked under control in about thirty minutes. Two brothers, ages 11 and 13, died in the fire.
Challenges included heavy fire and smoke conditions, multiple patients/victims, and a narrow staircase to gain access to the upstairs.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a cigarette accidentally dropped onto bedding . The home contained a smoke detector, but the device did not have a battery.
Lessons Learned
- Chesterfield has a Fire and Life Safety program with numerous community awareness programs and teams that go into the schools and teach fire and life safety, and to ensure students were aware of escape options available to them.
- A team composed of career and volunteer members of Chesterfield Fire and EMS performed a foot patrol throughout the community of Ettrick, personally knocking on every door, speaking to the residents about smoke detectors, offering to check existing smoke detectors and to provide residents with free smoke detectors and batteries.
- The aforementioned operation occurred in an eight-hour time frame, in which 324 homes were visited. Of those 324 homes, contact was accomplished with occupants at 212 homes; 142 smoke detectors were installed, and 146 batteries dispensed. Crews patrolled the next day to follow up with these residents and check on homes that were previously empty.
- Community meetings were held on two separate days to teach residents fire and life safety. The fire department’s free smoke detector program was emphasized.
