Yesterday was a day that municipalities across the country prepare for all the while praying they never need all that hardware and man power. I talked to the Fire Chief today and he reported that the unified dispatch system that we recently implemented with the County worked like a charm. At the height of the fire we had people from Loudon county helping us. Also, it has been reported that the FD ran out of water at one point. That doesn’t look to be accurate. The radio message indicated that the water mains were at capacity (roughly 5,000 gpm), not out of water.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the displaced residents and my thanks go to our volunteer and career Firefighters and Medics. I’m also thankful for the staff from surrounding jurisdictions who came to our aid. That’s the way the system is supposed to work. A word of introduction about the pictures: some of the pics with the warped siding are houses across the street from the fire. The heat was incredible. There was heat damage to the tower truck but it is my understanding that the staff (volunteer or career – don’t know yet) has already fixed it.
September 25, 2010 at 1:44 pm
FYI – The City Manager just phoned and
there has been a news conference called
by the Fire Marshal and the ATF to be
held at the Sumner Lake Community Center
at 5 PM today. They apparently have
determined the cause of the fire.
September 25, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Cigarettes, obviously one still lit, thrown into
the potting soil of a back deck plant. (Potting
soil isn’t dirt – some types will combust
when ignited. Also learned the size of a
typical house fire squares itself every
minute). The Manassas N&M website
has a piece on it as well as other news sites.
Recent area fires have started with candles
and now a cigarette. We all have to be
alert with any open flame.
Manassas City officials praised the
quick and robust support of PWC, MP and
Fairfax units on the fire ground plus Loudoun
and Falquier units who backfilled departments
who left their stations to help us. Mutual aid
and the new communications system worked
well.
A report is also slated for Monday’s council
meeting.
September 26, 2010 at 9:39 am
I give a standing ovation to our City and local crews! Especially within our City where it shows the career and volunteer, even with their ongoing diffierences, can pull together when the community needs them.
I also applaud the Council for approving grants or the funding needed by Chief Wood to integrate our FRS, both internal to the City and regionally.
As for the cause, within the neighborhood talk, it was kicked around as either a BBQ grill (like the townhome fires in Manassas Park that butt up against the east end of King Carter Street), or somebody tossed a cigarette out onto dry grass and it ignited. Being a pipe smoker, when outside I always make sure after I knock out the pipe to step on the remains.
September 26, 2010 at 11:05 am
You are right Ray, Manassas City’s public
safety departments did their usual outstanding
job working this incident. They, as always,
deserve our sincere thanks.
(Correction – “Fauquier County”)
September 26, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Thank you for keeping us safe and prayers for all those involved.
http://www.vafire.com/docs/2010GovernorsFireServiceAwards.pdf