On January 14th at 12:42 hours the box was struck reporting a house on fire with a person trapped sending Engine Companies 1, 2. 4, Tankers 1,2,4, Rescue 2, an ambulance and the deputies to the 2500 Blk of Red Lane Road.  A deputy arrived first and reported smoke showing.  With this information an additional Engine and Tanker Company (5) was added to the box.

Engine 1 arrived to find a cape cod house with moderate smoke pushing from the front door and a window on the first floor.  Everyone was out of the house but occupants reported a snake and a cat trapped in the house.  All hands quickly went to work with the fire attack crew stretching the bumper line to darken down a fire in the living room, the search crew pushing into the second floor to rescue the snake in a second floor bedroom and to search the house for the cat.  The fan was set up for positive pressure ventilation to remove the smoke and heat.  Firefighter John Cundiff located the snake and removed it outside to find it still alive.  The snake was quickly given to the owner and the cat was found shortly later deceased on the first floor.

There were no injuries and the fire was being contained by the occupant with a garden hose from the front porch window until the firefighters arrived.  The house sustained fire damage to the first floor living room, heavy smoke damage to the first floor and moderate smoke damage to the second floor.  The fire seems to have started near the TV in the living room.   Companies operated at the job for just over an hour.

Chief Bucher responded on the box and this was his first house fire as Chief of Powhatan Fire & EMS.

Volunteer Firefighters stretched a hose line in the front door to darken down a fire in the living room

The fire attack crew gives a progress report after they exited the house.

Assist Chief Warner uses a pike pole to move some items seaching for the cause of the fire

Volunteer Firefighters take up after a house fire in the 2500 Blk of Red Lane Road