ROANOKE, Va. – 1.29 6 p.m. Update:
The Roanoke Fire Department provided an update on the Courtland Road House fire that occurred Thursday morning.
Officials said crews were dispatched to the 2700 block of Courtland Road NW at 10:46 a.m. for reports of a basement fire. The caller advised there was thick black smoke in the basement with people inside the house. Dispatchers instructed the residents to evacuate.
At 10:48 a.m., the team on Engine 2 A-Shift arrived and reported smoke showing from the corner of the house. The call was upgraded to a working fire. As units marked on the scene, additional medic trucks and engine were requested. Crews entered the basement and located fire conditions. One victim was rescued from the first floor through a window and transported to the hospital and two additional victims were treated on scene with minor injuries.
At 11:01 a.m., a mayday was initiated by firefighters assigned to Engine 5 and ladder 5 inside the structure. Crews reported they were unable to evacuate. The Rapid Intervention Crew immediately responded and were able to evacuate all team members. At 11:06 a.m., all crews were outside of the building and Battalion 2 initiated exterior fighting operations. Four firefighters were transported to a local hospital.
Officials said that two sustained minor injuries, one had moderate injuries, and one had serious injuries. At this time, two firefighters remain hospitalized at a burn center and two have been released. At 12:10 p.m., the fire was marked under control.
“Fireground Operations are more complex in the icy conditions,” explained Chief Hoback, “pulling hose, making entry, connecting to the hydrant is much more difficult when walking across ice. This is one of the things that we train for whether it is a rescue for a citizen or one of our own. We will continue to provide support for our team members and their families as they navigate the recovery process.”
The families of the firefighters have been notified, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Original:
Four firefighters were injured while responding to a house fire in Northwest Roanoke, Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback said. One firefighter suffered significant burns and may need to be flown to a burn center. The other three are being treated at a hospital.
Authorities responded to the call around 11 a.m., reporting a fire in the 2700 block of Courtland Road.
Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke coming from the home. The fire department believes the fire started in the basement, but everyone inside was able to get out safely.
The fire is mostly extinguished, but drivers should still avoid the area if they are traveling near Courtland and Liberty. Hoback said the recent ice storm made responding especially difficult.
Stay with 10 News as this breaking news story continues to develop.