Wheat Ridge House Fire

Rick Luebke Photo ©

At 17:30 on November 21st, 2009 Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District was alerted to a structure fire at 6855 W. 33rd Ave. Dispatch advised that 911 caller reporting black smoke coming from the bathroom area. Engine 271 arrived to a single-family dwelling with nothing showing. Tower 71 arrived and took command on the Alpha side, and assisted Engine 271 with the investigation. Crews pulled a 1 3/4 line in to the front door and found brown-tan laminar smoke in the kitchen area. Crews pulled the line in to the kitchen with no fire, and then found a working fire with a room and contents fire in the front bedroom on the Alpha side. Conditions began to deteriorate rapidly and crews had zero visibility, and could not locate the bedroom door. With the hose line in the kitchen, crews had no means of extinguishing the fire, the firefighters were trapped, and a Mayday was transmitted. Command 71 arrived and assumed command on the Alpha side and a 2nd alarm was requested. Engine 271 initiated an emergency escape through the exterior window, and was assisted by a firefighter on the exterior of the home. All three firefighters were transported to a local hospital, and later released with minor injuries. The fire was declared out at 17:53. Additional information provided by Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District

Units on Scene:

Wheat Ridge: Chief 71, Engine 271, Tower 71, Engine 71, Engine 72, Tower 72 & Brush 71

Special Call: Chief 72, Chief 73 & Chief 76

West Metro Fire Rescue: District 1, SAM 1, Engine 1 & Tower 3

Pridemark Paramedics & Wheat Ridge Police Department

Rick Luebke Photo ©