Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department

This post could save your life or your home

At approximately 15:40 hours today we were dispatched to a single family residence on Mefferts Run Road in Wilcox. The caller reported smoke in the residence from an unknown source. First arriving personnel reported heavy smoke conditions but no active fire. Deputy Chief Wonderly arrived and his initial size up was a 1 story modular home residential construction with heavy smoke on the 1st floor and in the basement.

Engine 63 and Chief 6 arrived on scene 9 minutes after dispatch and Engine 61 arrived 1 minute later. Crews entered the residence to find moderate smoke on both levels and no active fire. Upon further investigation crews noted a soot stained door and heat coming from a closed bedroom. The room was entered and found a smoke charged room and moderate heat. The room had burned and it came from an electrical source and a heated blanket that may have been left on. Thankfully everyone was out of the residence and the family and the dogs had no injuries. The main purpose of this post is to remind the public the importance of closing your bedroom doors when sleeping or not at home. The fire was contained to the room and contents and the fire appeared to have snuffed itself out due to lack of oxygen. The following pictures show the hallway and closed door and then the conditions from inside the room. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature and the family was given information for fire restoration services.

These pictures are posted with permission from the family.