At 12:16 pm today, firefighters were dispatched to a fire at a single-family home in the 19000 block of Tile Flat Road in rural Washington County. Upon arrival firefighters found the home to be fully involved and partially collapsed. Due to the extent of the fire spread prior to arrival, firefighters were forced to fight this fire from the outside out of the home, also known as “defensive” mode. 

Crews were immediately able to begin fighting the fire. However, due to the rural setting of this home, fire hydrants were not readily available requiring firefighters to shuttle water to the scene. Additionally, the long driveway to the property required first arriving crews to lay several hundred feet of hose down the length of the driveway in order to pump the shuttled water to the fire. 

Although the occupants were not home when the fire started, one adult initially reported possible minor injuries but denied medical need by Metro West Ambulance paramedics when assessed. No other injuries were reported by occupant or firefighters.

The fire caused significant damage to the home and is considered a total loss; a cost estimate is not currently available.  An adult owner and one adult tenant are reported to be displaced. Additionally, at the time of press release, one pet cat was unaccounted for. A TVF&R fire investigator is on scene and will soon begin the exhaustive process of narrowing down the origin and seeking a possible cause, which is unknown at this time. 

This house did have working smoke detectors but did not have residential sprinkler system. When a fire sprinkler system is present, the likelihood of injuries and costly damage is dramatically reduced. More information about fire sprinkler systems can be found at: http://www.tvfr.com/index.aspx?nid=144

TVF&R was assisted by Metro West Ambulance and Washington County Sheriff.

For additional safety tips, visit www.tvfr.com.