FIRE & EMS WATCH
Fire damages three homes
Becky Robinette Wright

Traffic was blocked along Sexton Street last month while crews put out a kitchen fire.

Sirens screamed and red lights lit up the neighborhood as crews from several stations in the county responded to a report of a fire at Paddock Grove Court around 8 p.m. on Feb. 20. Those first on scene reported heavy fire and smoke. Additional crews were quickly dispatched to battle the blaze that threatened nearby homes and vehicles. Residents of surrounding homes were evacuated. Three homes were damaged before the fire was brought under control.

Crews from Chester, Centralia, Airport, Bensley, Dale, Manchester and Manchester at Courthouse Road responded to the second alarm fire. Multiple ambulances including Bensley-Bermuda Volunteer Rescue Squad and a special Air Utility Unit, which refills firefighter's air tanks, were on scene. County police handled traffic and provided crowd control.

Winds fuel brush fire

Fanned by high winds, firefighters battled a brush fire at 9200 Salem Church Rd. on Feb. 19. With sustained winds of 20-25 mph and gusts around 40 mph, the fire had plenty of fuel as it took hold in a wooded area with dried leaves and abundant brush. Lt. Steve Traylor, tactical safety officer, and Richard Reuse of the state's Department of Forestry were on scene along with crews from the Airport and Dale stations.

Firefighters hosed down the fire and used rakes and hooks to check for hidden embers. Then, to be on the safe side, they foamed the area to prevent the fire from rekindling.

The fire has been deemed suspicious. There have been several fires in the immediate area in recent months that have also been marked as suspicious.

Log cabin fire

Dale Station firefighters discovered heavy smoke and fire shooting through the roof of a log cabin at 6006 Satinwood Dr. on Feb. 24 around 11:15 p.m. Additional crews were requested as the attic fire continued to spread. The fire proved to be both stubborn and challenging to fight due to the trees and wooden fence that surrounded the property.

As the situation escalated, a two alarm call was sounded, and additional resources were dispatched. Crews responded from as far as Hull Street and the county airport to battle the blaze.

The home was under renovation and unoccupied at the time of the fire. The fire is under investigation.

Crash injures children

Three children and an adult were injured when the driver of a minivan lost control near the intersection of Hopkins and Shillcut roads on Feb. 16. According to reports, the van went up an embankment before crossing a yard, striking a utility pole and phone box, and then careening back down the embankment. The front wheel on the minivan broke as a result of the crash.

Crews from Centralia and Bensley stations handled the incident. Virginia State Police Trooper Scott Downs and county police investigated the crash.

The conditions of those injured were not released.

Kitchen fire

Fire erupted in a kitchen in the 6500 block of Sexton Street on Feb 14. Crews from Dale, Buford and Manchester responded. A Richmond unit was also dispatched via mutual aid. County police set up a perimeter to block traffic while the crews quickly brought the fire under control. No injuries were reported.

Four injured in crash

A small sedan was traveling down Beulah Road when the driver lost control, left the roadway, went down an embankment and crashed head on into a tree. The incident occurred at Beulah and Irongate roads around 11 p.m. on Feb. 24. Crews from Dale station arrived on scene first, and then requested additional assistance after discovering there were four people injured. Beulah Road was closed as crews removed the injured from the vehicle. The conditions of those involved have not been released, and the accident is under investigation.