At 01:35 on May 31, 2011 Cornelius and Davidson Fire Departments were dispatched for a structure fire in the area of Coachman’s Trace and Glenhill Dr. Cornelius Engine 6 arrived on scene and reported that there was a two story house with fire through the roof. Capt. Bridges arrived shortly after Engine 6 and assumed Command. Engine 6, with 4 personnel (3 paid, 1 volunteer) arrived and pulled a 2” hand line and began protecting the exposure on the B Division. Capt. Bridges pulled 200’ of supply to the hydrant and secured the water supply for Engine 6. The siding had already melted off of that structure and it was imperative that the first water be applied directly to the exposure to cool the surface and keep the second house from igniting. Ladder 4 arrived and set up in the “A” Division. Ladder 4’s crew (3 paid, 1 volunteer) advanced a 1.75” line into the main house fire and started attacking the fire in the attic. Deputy Chief G. Barbee arrived and assumed command from Capt. Bridges. Davidson Engine 1 laid 1200’ of supply line to Ladder 4. Davidson’s crew then stretched an attack line to the exposure on the D Division to insure it did not ignite as well. It was at this time the roof of the structure had been weakened to the point of near collapse. Command made the decision to pull the interior crews out for the safety of the firefighters. Once all were accounted for multiple hand lines were directed into the attic from the exterior knocking down the bulk of the fire. Crews were then sent back in to the structure to finishing extinguishing the fire. At this time Rescue 4 and Huntersville Engine 1 arrived and entered the structure to complete the primary search to insure there were no victims inside. The primary search proved to be negative. Additional crews were sent in to each exposure to insure there was no interior damage to either structure. Twenty five minutes after arriving on scene the incident was brought under control. In total there were 3 structures involved in the damage of this incident, one a total loss and sufficient siding damage to the two exposures.
Cornelius responded 2 Engines, 1 Ladder and 1 Rescue with a total of 18 personnel. Davidson and Huntersville FD responded with 1 Engine each.
The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office has concluded that this fire was intentionally set and is being ruled an arson.
