Sipesville Volunteer Fire Company

Just before the break of dawn on a clear fall morning, Station 607 was dispatched for a structure fire at 216 Morris Rd., Lincoln Twp. The first alarm card included Stations 608 and 603, Engines from 601 and 606, a Tanker from 604, and an ambulance from Station 900. 607 Chief responded direct to provide a scene size up and quickly advised that the structure was fully involved. 607 Chief immediately advised all incoming units that there would be exterior firefighting only, due to the intensity and involvement of the fire. The home was a three story log cabin, which the Sipesville Volunteers were already familiar with (firefighters responded to this residence in February 2006 for a flue fire). Tanker 607-2 and Engine 607-4 responded within 3 minutes from the time of dispatch. Squad 607-5 also responded a few minutes later. 607 Chief ordered the engine crew to place the preconnected Blitzfire into service, the first assignment for this new piece of equipment. Firefighters quickly went to work laying hose lines to protect exposures until a steady water supply could be established. Due to the location of the house, fire apparatus were forced to park along the road and lay lines approximately 250' to the structure. Once a water supply was obtained and attack lines were placed into service, firefighters extinguished the fully engulfed structure in approximately 5 minutes. Due to the fire the roof of the structure had collapsed, and there was nothing left inside the four exterior walls. Firefighters assisted with demolition of the walls and cleared debris from the foundation to help prevent any rekindle. Although the home was occupied at the time of the fire, everybody escaped without significant injury. Three occupants were transported to the hospital by Somerset Area Ambulance for smoke inhalation, but were treated and released. The cause of the fire is unknown, but not suspicious. The Sipesville Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank all of the mutual aid companies that assisted on this alarm. All personnel worked well together in bringing this raging inferno under control in a relatively short time. A special thanks also goes out to the Sipesville Ladies Auxiliary for preparing breakfast for the firefighters at the station upon their return from the fire scene.