October 29, 2009
Dixon fire fought by Dixon, Charlo firefighters
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
DIXON — The warning of a smoke alarm helped a Dixon family escape a devastating fire, pets in toe, when an electrical socket started sparking on Tuesday night.
The Dixon Rural Fire Department was called at 11:55 p.m. to the one-story, wood-frame home located in Dixon Agency Housing. Shortly after they called Charlo/ Moiese Volunteer Fire Department requesting assistance.
Charlo Fire Department Chief Mark Young said the Dixon Fire Department was understaffed and had water in the hoses, waiting for the Charlo Fire Department to arrive.
“(We) almost never have enough people,” Dixon Assistant Fire Chief Steve Glow said. “We routinely ask for help.”
He also added that the Dixon Fire Department waited for the assistance of the Charlo Fire Department because it is unsafe to enter a burning building with insufficient manpower.
“In the fire world, you don’t begin an interior attack unless you have a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team),” Glow said.
Glow was very grateful to the Charlo Fire Department for their aid in fighting the flames.
“They really helped us out and I am not ashamed to say so,” Glow said.
A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper who was a former member of the Charlo/Moiese Volunteer Fire Department was the first on the scene Tuesday evening.
According to Charlo Fire Chief Mark Young the house caught on fire due to an electrical problem in an outlet in the kitchen.
“When we got down there, there was an active fire in the kitchen area and into the attic,” Young said.
Young stated that the home was older and had multiple additions built on to the house.
“There was definitely an extreme amount of smoke damage throughout the house,” Young said.
By the time the Charlo Fire Department left there was also a significant amount of water damage done to the residence, Young stated.
The fire departments responded with two fire engines, two water tenders, a quick response unit and an estimated 16 firefighters. |
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