On Easter Sunday, Cornelius Fire and Rescue companies were alerted for a motor vehicle accident involving an overturned vehicle on Jetton Road near the intersection of West Catawba Avenue.  Engine 4 quickly arrived to find a two vehicle collision with one vehicle overturned on the passenger side.  The driver, a male patient, was restrained and entrapped in the overturned vehicle.  Engine company crew began gaining access to the driver as Cornelius-9 (J. Barbee) arrived on scene and assumed command.  Rescue 4 arrived within minutes and immediately stabilized the vehicle and took over rescue operations.  The patient was extricated quickly and turned over to the awaiting Medic crew for transport to the nearest trauma center.  Cornelius companies cleared after approximately one hour, turning the scene over to the Cornelius Police Department for investigation.   (Photo credits: Kelly O’Hara)

Companies Responding:

Cornelius: E-4, R-4, CH-9 (J. Barbee)

Medic: 1 ALS unit

On April 19, 2011 at approximately 1800 hrs, Cornelius and Huntersville Fire Departments were alerted for a possible structure fire at Picasso’s Sports Bar on Torrence Chapel Rd.  Cornelius 16 (G. Shaner) arrived on scene within 2 minutes of dispatch to find smoke showing from Division A of a one-story restaurant and assumed command.  Engine 4 was first in and assigned suppression, stretching an 1 /34” attack line to Div A.  The fire was found to be in a column in front of the sports bar.  The crew from E-4 opened the column using hand tools and extinguished the fire.  Hook and Ladder 44 arrived on scene and the crew set the aerial up to check the roof for any extension.  Cornelius R-4 and Huntersville E-22 assisted with suppression and overhaul.  No fire was found on the interior of the sports bar or in any adjacent unit of the building.  The cause of the fire was determined to be discarded smoking materials in a flower bed outside the structure.  After a quick knockdown and thorough overhaul, Cornelius units cleared the scene and returned to service at approx 1900 hrs.

Companies Responding:

Cornelius:

• Engine 3
• Engine 4
• Hook & Ladder 44
• Rescue 4
• Chief 9 (J. Barbee)

Huntersville:

• Engine 22

FMO:

• 1100 (M. Auten)

On March 12, 2011 Cornelius and Huntersville Fire Departments were dispatched to Nautique Blvd for a working apartment fire. While enroute dispatch advised that one occupant may still be inside the fire apartment. Captain John Lang arrived on scene and advised all units that there was smoke visible from the third floor and assumed command. Engine 4 arrived and sent personnel to the fire apartment to conduct a primary search.  Hook & Ladder 44 arrived and advanced the apartment line to the fire floor. Engine 3 arrived, secured a water supply and laid the supply line to Engine 4. Deputy Chief Guerry Barbee arrived on Engine 3 and assumed command from Captain Lang. Captain Lang was then assigned Division 3. Engine 4’s crew advised that the primary was complete but they could not locate the fire. Rescue 4’s crew arrived and proceeded to the second floor to check for fire and conduct a primary. Huntersville Engine 22 arrived and was given the assignment to evacuate and complete a primary on the entire structure. At that time Engine 4’s crew advised they had located the fire and that it had been extinguished by the sprinkler system; however they still had heavy smoke conditions in the fire apartment. Three sprinkler heads had been activated. A control time was then issued at 22:00. Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal 1100 arrived and controlled the sprinkler system. Numerous crews were then given the task of salvage on all three floors. Command was advised that Cornelius PD had been dispatched to the fire apartment earlier in the evening due to a dispute between roommates. At that time the on duty Fire Marshal was contacted and Division 3 was advised to secure the fire apartment because of a possible police matter. The apartments below the fire apartment suffered water damage from the sprinkler system. Aggressive salvage operations were conducted in those two apartments. The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office conducted the investigation.  Cornelius units cleared the scene at 23:45.

The cause of this fire has been determined to be an intentionally set arson fire. The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal and Cornelius PD are working to gain all information needed to complete their investigation.

RESPONDING UNITS:

• Cornelius: E4, E3, E6, H&L44, L4, R4, Fireboat 4 (29 Personnel)
• Huntersville: E22, R1
• Davidson: E1
• Medic: 2 ALS Units
• Meck. Co. Fire Marshal: 1100, 1103

At 02:18 on April 8th, 2011 Cornelius Fire was dispatched for a structure fire in the area of Coachman’s Trace and Meadow Crossing Lane.  During the response Central advised that they were receiving multiple calls on this incident.  Cornelius 20, Capt. Drew Bridges was responding and advised he had a large column of smoke and to upgrade to a working fire an add Huntersville FD.  Capt. Bridges arrived at 10250 Meadow Crossing Lane to find a two story residential structure with fire through the roof and fire involving two adjacent exposures, Capt. Bridges then assumed Command.  Engine 3, with 5, arrived and pulled a 2.5” hand line and began protecting the exposures.  Engine 3’s crew made a stop on the exposure house on the D division and then repositioned to the exposure on the B division.  The remainder of Engine 3’s crew pulled a 2” hand line and assisted with exposure protection.  Ladder 4 arrived and set up in the “A” Division with the elevated master stream in position.  Davidson Engine 3 laid 800’ of supply line to Ladder 4.  Engine 6 arrived and laid 600’ of supply line to Engine 3.  At this time Huntersville Engine 1 arrived and advanced a 1.75” hand line into the exposure structure on the “B” Division.  After about one minute, the fire conditions had deteriorated and the evacuation tone was announced.  At this time Ladder 4 began flowing the elevated master stream into the exposure structure on the “B” Division.   There was also extension into a fourth structure, but it was only damage to the exterior of the house.  Shortly afterward, the incident was brought under control.  In total there were 4 structures, 4 cars, and a fence that were involved in the damage of this incident.  Headline photo courtesy of  David Boraks / CorneliusNews.net

RESPONDING UNITS:

Cornelius FD:

• Engine 3
• Ladder 4
• Engine 6
• Rescue 4
• Chief’s Car

Davidson FD:

• Engine 3
• Ladder 1

Huntersville FD:

Engine 1, Engine 33 (moved up to Station 1)

Medic:

• ALS Unit