For posterity I guess
Home Destroyed By Fire In Washington County, VA
By Josh Smith
Anchor / WJHL
Published: August 13, 2009
A massive house fire sent emergency crews scrambling this morning in Washington County, Virginia.
Just after 3 a.m., the call for help came from the 15000 block of Wilderness Road in the Lowery Hills Subdivision, just outside the Bristol, Virginia city limits.
No word yet if anyone was injured.
Washington County, Virginia Fire and Rescue called for backup from three other departments including the city of Bristol, Virginia.
11 Connects’ Dana Wachter is at the scene to provide live updates on 11 Connects at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m..
Update at 5:49 a.m.:
11 Connects’ Dana Wachter is at the fire scene. She reports the 4,000 square feet home is engulfed in flames. Several firefighters escaped the burning home after almost getting trapped inside. That’s forced firefighters to pull back and tackle the fire from the outside.
One person was taken to the hospital with an injury, but we don’t have specifics about this right now.
Update at 7:05 a.m.:
11 Connects’ Dana Wachter reports firefighters believe the charred shell of the home could collapse.
The man at the home who was taken to the hospital is back at the fire scene after being treated for smoke inhalation.
Mirrored from Flerly.com.
UPDATED:
By Dana Wachter
Published: August 13, 2009
Washington Co., Va.-A home in on Wilderness Road, in a subdivision off Lee Highway in Washington County, Va. was destroyed by fire Thursday.
Firefighters got the call just after 3 a.m. The Washington County Fire Department had to call backup from three other local departments to fight such a massive blaze. The crews tried to get inside to fight the fire, but due to the layout of the home, and the amount of fire in the basement, they deemed it unsafe, and fought the fire from outside.
They controlled the fire to the structure, but since they couldn’t get inside, the fire was much harder to put out.
“You can’t put the water where you want it,“ said Washington County, Va. Fire Chief Michael Morenings. “When you’re inside doing it, you can get right into it, get right close and put the water where you want it. When you’re outside, like we’re doing right now, you’re just throwing it up there and trying to get the best results.“
Bobby Johnson lived alone at the home. He got out in time from the alarm, and his daughter got to the scene after a phone call from their alarm system.
“He said that he tried to go in and grab a couple things out of his bedroom,“ said Bobby’s daughter Sarah Johnson, “but they ended up finding him in the yard and taking him to the hospital [for smoke inhalation], and he’s been discharged now. He’s alright.“
The fire was mostly out by nine this morning, and crews stayed on the scene for hours to make sure the hot spots wouldn’t flare up.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is the lead on the investigation, said investigators are still working to determine the cause.