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Dryer Fire Pleasent Rd
Cool weather seems to take a toll on fire statistics. This was demonstrated
on Thursday evening, December 5 when Yeadon firefighters heard the 9:15 p.m. dispatch
reporting a structure fire. Before the firefighters left the Bullock Avenue address,
they learned how closely an occupant of the 2-1/2-story twin home came to losing
her life.
Upon his arrival at the home in the 900 block of Bullock Avenue,
Chief Jeffries reported by radio his observation of heavy smoke on the second floor
of the home. Additionally, he noted the occupants had exited the residence. He added
details about the construction, including the information that homes in this section
of Yeadon also have a sizable attic above the living area.
In trying to
locate the actual location of the fire, Jeffries attempted to climb the stairs to
the second floor. The smoke he found prevented Yeadon’s fire chief from completing
his investigation.
In attempting to climb the steps and could not make his
way on to the second floor. He reported the smoke conditions and gave instruction
to arriving apparatus.
First in apparatus included East Lansdowne and Yeadon.
The location of the fire, which was not immediately visible, was adjacent to the
top of the steps. They found the fire to be very intense. The location of the burning
on the walls demonstrated the bulk of the fire was low in the room. Further firefighter
advances into the room help them see the fire had consumed the mattress and box spring.
In describing the fire Chief Jeffries stated, “This type of burning yields
a large amount thick, black, toxic smoke.”
Firefighters commented that a
quick thinking occupant had closed the bedroom door. This technique, one often learned
in school, aided in containing the blaze. Upon reaching the second floor bedroom,
the fire crew opened the door, made a quick entry, and began a quick extinguishing
of the fire.
As is a standard practice, a second hose line was advanced
into the home. It was held in reserve in the event it was needed for life-saving
backup or an extension of the initial fire.
Before the firefighting efforts
were completed, an investigation was initiated. Fire officials were concerned when
an answer to one of the routine questions asked by fire investigators was found to
be incorrect. Jeffries explained, “We were told no one within the house smoked. Yet,
we found a large ashtray completely filled with spent cigarettes.”
During
additional dialog, Jeffries commented on the lack of installed Smoke Detectors to
the homeowner. She told the local fire chief the family was in the process of installing
new batteries in the home’s Smoke Detectors. Following this statement, firefighters
discovered a small plastic trash container in the home’s kitchen that appeared to
add doubt to that statement. Inside this container was a collection of battery-less
smoke detectors. This collection was taken to Jeffries, who at the time was talking
with Fire Marshal Jim Wyatt.
In what he described as a search that was done
“on my hands and knees” Wyatt found evidence of a burned candle. Wyatt confronted
both the homeowner and her daughter about the use of a candle. During intense dialog,
Yeadon’s fire marshal was told the daughter may have been praying while using a lighted
candle and then fallen asleep.
Further dialog provided more findings. The
young occupant had been sleeping and she awoke and smelled the smoke. Her next reaction
was natural. She screamed and jumped out of bed. Observed by the scared girl was
a fire that had involved both the bed and nearby floor. Wyatt stated, “She was lucky.
Somehow she escaped without a burn or a scratch.”
Ventilation was used to
remove the smoke from both the home with the fire and the adjacent home that shares
that party wall.
Fire Marshal Jim Wyatt promptly added a safety statement.
“Candles are a dangerous addition to a home. Every year one or more fires are tagged
to the use of them. Yeadon firefighters have an all-too-fresh memory of a Yeadon
fatality that was started by a candle. A fire that was also on Bullock Avenue.”
“Fires don’t just happen. They are started by people and the things people do and
don’t do, “ added Chief Craig Jeffries.
Yeadon Fire Company News
For
more information contact L. James Biddle, PIO LJamesBiddle@juno.com 610-353-0880
In a progression of events, on Friday, December 6, Yeadon firefighters responded
to a second fire in the same block of Bullock Avenue, Yeadon. This second fire, only
hours following an earlier fire in the neighborhood, was reported at 2:35 a.m. This
second fire in many ways was more dissimilar than alike the earlier fire.
Instead of being a second floor fire, the later fire was located in the basement
of the structure. A major difference was the method of alert. The occupants told
Chief Craig Jeffries upon his arrival that the sound of a Smoke Detector was the
life-saving awareness.
During his entry, Yeadon Fire Chief Jeffries found
a medium smoke condition inside the property. . Based upon his experience Jeffries
recognized the source of the smoke. Explaining, he said, “The type of smoke and its
characteristic odor, pointed to the home’s heating system.”
The gas-fuel
heating system was turned off and the smoke was removed using a special ventilation
fan.
Following the fire, Jeffries told the fire crews, “What a difference
between the two fires. We have positive proof with this early morning fire that Smoke
Detectors do save lives.”
