$1.3 million Great Falls home burns to the ground
Lack of hydrants forced firefighters to shuttle water
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130909/NEWS/130909416/1117/-13-million-great-falls-home-burns-to-the-ground&template=fairfaxTimes
A 12,000-square-foot home undergoing renovation in Great Falls is a complete loss after fire burned it to the ground early Sunday morning, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue officials.
Firefighters said they were called to the fire in the 1000 block of Leigh Mill Road in Great Falls Sunday shortly after 2 a.m.
Firefighters said they found heavy fire showing from all three floors upon their arrival. The home was under renovation and unoccupied when the fire broke out, officials said. Because the home is located in an area where there are no fire hydrants, firefighters initiated a water shuttling operation, utilizing tanker trucks that can carry large amounts of water to the scene of a fire. Firefighters damned a nearby creek to use as their primary water supply for these tanker trucks. “We utilized a rural water supply,” said Dan Schmidt, public information officer for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Because many areas of Great Falls do not have fire hydrants, the Great Falls fire station houses a water tanker truck that is able to carry 2,500 gallons of water, as well as a fire engine truck that can carry 750 gallons. For fires in non-hydrant areas, crews go to the nearest water source and shuttle water in those vehicles on a relay system. As one is being used, another is filling up.
“The North Point station [in Herndon] also has a tanker truck that is part of our tanker task force,” said Schmidt.
Schmidt said it took firefighters approximately 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. There were no occupants in the home and no injuries reported, but the home, valued at $1.3 million, was a total loss.
Schmidt said a man in a nearby guest house escaped unharmed. Firefighters were able to protect and save the guest house as well as an adjacent pool house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Lack of hydrants forced firefighters to shuttle water
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130909/NEWS/130909416/1117/-13-million-great-falls-home-burns-to-the-ground&template=fairfaxTimes
A 12,000-square-foot home undergoing renovation in Great Falls is a complete loss after fire burned it to the ground early Sunday morning, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue officials.
Firefighters said they were called to the fire in the 1000 block of Leigh Mill Road in Great Falls Sunday shortly after 2 a.m.
Firefighters said they found heavy fire showing from all three floors upon their arrival. The home was under renovation and unoccupied when the fire broke out, officials said. Because the home is located in an area where there are no fire hydrants, firefighters initiated a water shuttling operation, utilizing tanker trucks that can carry large amounts of water to the scene of a fire. Firefighters damned a nearby creek to use as their primary water supply for these tanker trucks. “We utilized a rural water supply,” said Dan Schmidt, public information officer for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Because many areas of Great Falls do not have fire hydrants, the Great Falls fire station houses a water tanker truck that is able to carry 2,500 gallons of water, as well as a fire engine truck that can carry 750 gallons. For fires in non-hydrant areas, crews go to the nearest water source and shuttle water in those vehicles on a relay system. As one is being used, another is filling up.
“The North Point station [in Herndon] also has a tanker truck that is part of our tanker task force,” said Schmidt.
Schmidt said it took firefighters approximately 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. There were no occupants in the home and no injuries reported, but the home, valued at $1.3 million, was a total loss.
Schmidt said a man in a nearby guest house escaped unharmed. Firefighters were able to protect and save the guest house as well as an adjacent pool house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.