Neither Family At Home When Fires Started
Two area families have lost their homes to fires over the past several days.
A Fairfield family of four lost their home and two dogs in a fire Saturday afternoon, and a house on Long Hollow Road was destroyed by fire yesterday, displacing a family of nine.
The Fairfield area family was out of town at Smith Mountain Lake when the fire was called in about 2:30 p.m. Saturday by a neighbor, according to Nathan Ramsey, Rockbridge County fire-rescue chief.
The caller reported flames and smoke visible behind 307 Swope Lane, but wasn’t sure of the exact address. The house, at 433 Swope Lane, was at the end of a long driveway south of the road. Paid staff members of the Fairfield Rescue Squad, who were first on the scene, located the correct driveway and were able to guide fire- trucks to the house so that no time was lost in the response, said Ramsey.
When firefighters arrived, the house was fully involved. “The fire had a good start,” said Ramsey.
Firefighters learned early on that the family was not at home, so firefighters did not have to enter the structure. They mounted a “defensive attack,” meaning that they could remain outside and put water on the fire.
Firefighters from seven departments responded to the fire, with tanker trucks bringing in water from nearby hydrants and a dump tank set up that provided water to the firefighters.
The firefighters would remain on the scene for hours, with the last units not leaving until nearly 7 that night.
The units responding included South River, Raphine, Rockbridge Baths, Buena Vista, Lexington, Walkers Creek and Riverheads fire departments, Fairfield Rescue and Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue.
The homeowners, Ramey said, arrived during the middle of the incident. The house was a total loss. Ramsey said the family was planning on staying with relatives in the short-term.
Calls went out on Facebook immediately after the fire for donations of clothing, grocery and household items and gift cards, with donations being accepted at 50 Swope Lane in Fairfield.
According to a Facebook post Monday night by a relative, the family has found a temporary home and will be moving in shortly. She said they have received “an overwhelming amount of donated clothing, toys, and other items” with gift cards, cash or Venmo being the “most helpful so they can purchase the specific items they still need.”
Items, including the family’s favorite foods, continue to be accepted at the Fairfield location.
-The second house fire, at 465 Long Hollow Road in Buena Vista Tuesday morning, also occurred while family members were not at home.
The whole house and its contents were destroyed by the fire, according to Rockbridge County Deputy Fire Chief Brad Zollman yesterday afternoon.
Zollman said the fire was reported by neighbors. By the time fire and EMS units arrived on scene, the house was already fully involved.
With the family displaced as a result of the fire, Zollman said, the American Red Cross is currently providing assistance and working with the family.
Zollman also noted that members of the community have already begun reaching out to offer support. The News-Gazette has seen Facebook users in the area posting for support and donations for the family.
Donations for this family are also being accepted at 50 Swope Lane.
Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including Buena Vista Fire, Buena Vista Rescue, Glasgow Fire, Kerrs Creek Fire, Natural Bridge Fire, and Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue.
