Two alarms were struck on Parkville Drive in north Raleigh on Thursday morning. Engine 19 was first-due at 4830 Parkville Drive. They reported a heavy column of smoke visible, while en route. Headquarters upgraded to a working fire, prior to their arrival.

Engine 19 arrived at a two-story, wood-frame, multi-family residential building (townhouses) with about 7,500 square feet and six units. Heavy fire in the end unit on the first floor, extending to second floor. 

Google Maps

The Engine 19 officer received reports of people possible trapped inside, and jumping from open windows. He requested a second alarm, and the engine and arriving Ladder 2 took a line inside, and began searching. Engine 21 brought the supply line to Engine 19. Battalion 5 arrived, and assumed command.

Firefighters were called out of the fire building, as conditions intensified. Defensive operations started using a portable monitor on the exterior of the building. Crews also took lines into the adjoining townhouse, to protect the attic and its firewall. 

The fire was soon contained, and controlled within 35 minutes of the first unit’s arrival. Extended salvage and overhaul brought two additional companies to the scene, special called for relief, due to the high outdoor temperatures. (High of 91 degrees that day, with 70 degree dew point.)

WRAL image

Dispatched 11:13 a.m. Working fire dispatched ~11:15 a.m. Second alarm dispatched ~11:19 a.m. Controlled 11:53 a.m. First alarm: E19, E27, E21, E4, L2, L5, R1, B5, B2. Working fire: A2, C20, C401. Second alarm: E9, Sq7, E28, L1, L3, B3. Special called: E17, L7. Plus EMS units.

The townhouse was destroyed, and the firewall prevented the spread into the adjoining home. The second townhouse sustained water damaged. Six adults and two children were displaced. No injuries were reported. 

Read this WTVD story about the fire, which includes aerial and viewer video from Andy Glass. See also stories from WRAL and News and Observer[1].

[1] Link now broken, http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article156311219.html

Tony Glass screen grab

Two alarms were struck Friday morning at 9511 Prince George Lane. That’s near Six Forks and Strickland roads, in north Raleigh. Dispatched ~12:07 p.m.

First-due Engine 4 was out of quarters, on another call. With multiple callers reporting the fire, the dispatcher upgraded the incident to a working fire, while the fire department was still en route. Engine 4 also cleared their other call, and responded. They arrived about a minute ahead of second-due Engine 18.

Engine 4 arrived with heavy fire showing from a brick-and-frame, garden-style multi-unit apartment building.[1] 10,440 square-feet, built 1986, say tax records. The middle units of the building were fully-involved.

They “laid in wet”, stopping first at the fire hydrant, and laying their own line to the building. With the volume of fire and reports of subjects possibly trapped, the Engine 4 officer requested as second alarm within about a minute.

WTVD viewer video screen capture, uncredited, via Twitter

As the fire department was arriving, two men were going door-to-door as the fire was spreading. They kicked in doors, and called for anyone inside to come to safety. Their actions were captured on cellphone video by Corey Grant Eason.

Engine 4 continued evacuation of the building with the two civilians, as their water supply was established. Crews then started an interior attack with hand lines, but were soon withdrawn to start aerial operations. Evacuation tones were sounded on the radio, and air horns were sounded on scene.

Ladder 1 (platform) and Ladder 3 (straight stick) flowed.They were positioned on the front right (L1 supplied by E18) and front left (L3 with own hydrant) corners of the building. They knocked down the bulk of the fire, and crews resumed suppression, and then salvage and overhaul.

Battalion 5 had command, then assumed by Car 20, then assumed by Car 3, the Assistant Chief of Services. Wake County EMS provided medical monitor and rehab. The fire was controlled in just under an hour. Three additional engines were called for manpower, starting about ninety minutes into the incident.

Nineteen residents were displaced. At least eight units were damaged by fire, and at least four were damaged by smoke and water, said officials. (The Red Cross reported eleven occupied units were destroyed.) There was a firewall between each apartment, they noted.

The fire started on the porch of a rear, second-floor apartment, burned through the porch to the first floor, and spread from there, said officials via news reports. The cause was not determined. No residents were injured.

Run Card

• ~12:07 – First alarm – E18, E16, E15, E9, L1, L3, R1, B5, B4, C420.
• ~12:10 – E4 added to call, after clearing another.
• ~12:11 – Working fire – A1, C20, C401.
• ~12:13 – E4 arrived.
• ~12:14 – Second alarm – E17, E29, E6, L9, L5, B1.
• ~12:29 – E13 to Station 18, move-up.
• ~12:29 – E3 to Station 9, move-up.
• ~13:00 – Fire under control.
• ~13:31 – E13, E23, special called.
• ~14:51 – E24, special called.

News Stories

• News & Observer – Homes ablaze on North Raleigh’s Prince George Lane
• WNCN – Multiple units damaged in Raleigh apartment fire
• WRAL – Visitors, bystanders warn residents of Raleigh apartment fire
• WTVD – Raleigh townhouse fire displaces 19

[1] But wait Batman, weren’t these townhomes? Unsure. Seeing conflicting reports. Tax records indicating only one property owner. Ergo apartments?