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At 0604 this morning, box 21 was dispatched for a reported working fire in the 1300 block of Cotton Street. Engines 13, 5, 1, 3 safety, Tower 1, Rescue 1, Medic 601 and Car 7 were due to respond. While the apparatus were en route to the scene, Car 7 announced that his vehicle would not start. Engine 3 was then rerouted to the Plum and Franklin station to pick up Car 7 and transport him to the fire.
Engine 13 arrived on location at the fire and reported fire blowing out the 2nd floor front. Firefighters went in service with an 1 3/4 inch attack line and advanced it into the building. Tower 1's crew threw up a ground ladder and attempted to raise the platform to the roof however they were unable to rotate the unit. Unit 21, on scene command, requested another aerial. Car 7, now en route on Engine 3, directed the Lieutenant to call a 2nd alarm if he needed to and Unit 21 then called for the 2nd. Apparatus on the 2nd were Engines 9, 14 and Ladder 1. Cars 1, 10 and 22 also responded.
Crews inside the fire building made good progress but the fire extended up into the 3rd floor and got into the exposures on both sides. Additional lines were advanced into the exposures. Firefighters also took to the roofs and cut large openings on either side of the fire building to stop the fire from spreading any further. Within 25 minutes firefighters had the majority of fire blackened down and were wetting down hot spots in all the buildings. Car 1 put the fire under control about 65 minutes after the first alarm came in.
The 2nd and third floors of the fire building were gutted and the exposures were heavily damaged. Early reports of a victim on the roof of the fire building were unconfirmed and the occupant of the home was later discovered in the rear yard. Reportedly, the occupant had just moved into the dwelling the day prior and police had reported responding to suspicious activity in the area earlier in the night. No initial cause of the fire was given by the Fire Marshal who is continuing his investigation into the cause. The Red Cross was called to assist four adults and several animals. Thanks to Brett Mack for sending the photos
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