Box 2336 was transmitted at 12:01 for a report of a house fire at 854 N. 8th Street. It was dispatched with possible entrapment.
Engine 4, 9, 6, Truck 2 and Car 43 (Wehr) responded. Companies arrived to heavy smoke and fire showing from a 3-story M/O/R.
Engine 4 stretched in and immediately began an interior attack. Crews darkened down the fire on the first and second floors. The rear porch roof ignited as the fire vented out of the rear of the dwelling.
The 2nd alarm was transmitted immediately sending Engines 10, 13 and 14. The 3rd alarm was transmitted by Chief 40 (Scheirer) bringing in Engine 11.
The fire extended to the Delta exposure and Delta 1 via the cockloft and walls. The bravo exposure also sustained fire damage.
Crews stretched multiple hand lines. Engine 11 positioned on Greenleaf and stretched a feeder line into the alley in the rear. A hand line was used to hit the fire on the exterior of 854 and 856. The line was then stretched into the rear second floor of exposure Delta 1. Members in this exposure were pulling ceilings in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading to the next exposure.
Command transmitted a 10-69 (evacuation) of the fire buildings as the fire intensified in the exposures.
The 4th alarm was transmitted sending reserve engines 5, 8 and reserve truck 1 to the scene plus all off-duty firefighters.
Trucks 2 and 1 were set up on 8th Street with their elevated master streams as the fire blew through the roof of the exposures. Engine 11's ladder was set up on Greenleaf.
The fire burned out of control for more than 3 hours and were still operating 5 hours later.
5 firefighters were injured during the blaze. An air-conditioned tent was set up to rehabilitate the firefighters.
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen.
A total of 7 homes were damaged.
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