|
This report is a summary of the
recorded fire calls for the LHVFD that I have found. Prior to 1995,
there are very few documented fire calls in the archives. Since
1995, much more complete records were found.
We are very fortunate through the
years to have experienced relatively few serious fires or related
emergencies; however, it is incumbent on the Fire Dept. officers and
members to maintain a high level of readiness and not be complacent.
We have had five total loss
structural fires in recent history, 2009 became a historically
disastrous year because there were three destructive fires in a
period of less than two months:
1. A house on Cactus Drive burned
to the ground on Oct. 31, 1997. Hot fireplace ashes had been dumped
near dry lumber stored beneath a second floor deck. The lumber
caught fire which extended to the plastic propane gas line that
entered the house. The heat melted the line, which resulted in a
fire blast impinging on the log exterior of the house. By the time
the first Fire Dept. units arrived on scene, the fire was completely
out-of-control. With the mutual aid support of the Montrose Fire
Dept. and the Ridgway Volunteer Fire Dept., the fire damage was
limited to the house - there was no extension of the fire to
surrounding buildings or other property. The house was subsequently
rebuilt.
2. A house on Wisteria Drive
burned to the ground on December 16/17, 2003. The source of the
fire apparently was overheated electronic equipment in the
basement. No one was home at the time - by the time it was
discovered and called in, it was out-of-control. With mutual aid
support of the Montrose Fire Dept. and The Ridgway Volunteer Fire
Dept. the fire damage was limited to the house - there was no
extension of the fire to surrounding buildings or other property.
The house was subsequently rebuilt.
3. A house at mid-mesa on Molly's Way was extensively
damaged by fire on November 3, 2009. The owner reported the
emergency by a 911 call shortly before 5:00 am - no one else and no
pets were at the house. The fire was out-of-control when
firefighters from the Log Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. with the mutual
aid support of the Montrose Fire Dept. arrived at the scene in about
15 to 20- min. Log Hill Fire Chief John Rogers was Incident
Command. There was no extension of the fire to other buildings or
other property. No injuries were reported.
4. A mobile home on County Road 22B was totally damaged by
fire on November 25, 2009. The fire call went out at 2:41 am on a
blustery cold morning with several inches of unplowed snow on the
roads. On arrival at the scene, the structure was fully involved
and a nearby truck was on fire. Fire personnel under the command of
Asst. Chief Tom Austin controlled and extinguished the fire. No
injuries were reported.
5. A house on County Road 1 near Ridgway suffered
extensive fire and water damage due to a chimney fire on December
25, 2009. The fire call was paged at 2:34 pm. Log Hill Fire Chief
John Rogers was Incident Command - Montrose FD and Ridgway FD
provided valuable mutual aid support. Cold temperatures and a
difficult to access to the roof of the three-story home required
over three hours to get the fire under control.
We have had two serious loss
structural fires in recent history:
1. A house on County Road #1C
suffered severe fire, smoke and water damage due to an overheated
electrical source. No one was home at the time - a next-door
neighbor discovered the fire and reported it. With mutual aid
support from the Montrose Fire Dept., the fire was extinguished and
many of the household furnishings were saved. The house was
subsequently restored.
2. A house on Sage Brush suffered
severe fire, smoke and water damage due to an overheated electrical
source. No one was home at the time - a nearby neighbor discovered
the fire and reported it. With mutual aid support from the Montrose
Fire Dept., the fire was extinguished and many of the household
furnishings were saved. The house was subsequently restored.
|
