South Boston Fire & EMS

Residential Structure Fire

2010-11-22T11:41:00.002-05:00

On Saturday Nov. 20 at 1500 hrs stations 1 and 2 were alerted for a structure fire on Gravitt St. First units on scene advised a single story wood frame dwelling with heavy smoke showing. Interior attack found the kitchen off with some extension to the attic. All fire was extinguished, smoke removed, and overhaul was done. Station 1 units were on scene for approx. 2 hours.

Back to Back Structure Fires

2010-11-15T23:11:00.004-05:00

November 14 proved to be a busy day for South Boston and Halifax Firefighters. At 12:24 Sta. 1 and 2 was alerted for a residential fire on North Main Street. Upon arrival smoke was found coming from 3 sides of the 2 story house. Entry into the house found heavy fire damage in the hallway and fire in the rear of the hallway. All fire was extinguished. Heavy fire damage was found in the hallway and back room. Heat and smoke damage was found throughout the whole house. All smoke was removed and units cleared.

For the second time on the same day at 19:35 Sta.1 and Sta. 2 units were alerted for a hot water heater smoking in a residence. It was later announced that sparks were coming from the hot water heater. Upon arrival of first arriving personnell, heavy fire was found coming from the front door and it could be seen in several windows. A quick knockdown kept the fire damage to one large room and several hallways. All searches proved negative and hazards were controlled. Ventilation was conducted and salvage operations began. No injuries to the home owner, one firefighter had a cut on his arm and had to be checked out at HRH.

Photos courtesy of Gazette Virginia

Residential Structure Fire

2010-11-15T22:56:00.002-05:00

On October 30 station 1 and 2 were dispatched to smoke in a house. Upon arrival smoke was found coming from the eaves of the house. When crews made entry heavy smoke was found on the first floor with close to zero visability. After a search for the fire, the fire was found in the basement. Luckily the fire was mostly extinguished by a water pipe that had burnt through. Extensive overhaul was conducted. No firefighters were injured but the homeowners cat perished in the fire.

Another fire on November 2 put station 1 and 2 back to work. This time heavy fire was found on the outside of the house and through the roof. Entry to the house found fire in the attick and around a chimney/fireplace. Extensive overhaul had to be conducted to ensure that all of the hotspots were found and controlled. Units were on scene for approx. 2 hours. No injuries were reported

Photo courtesy of Gazette Virginian

MVA

2010-09-28T00:12:00.002-04:00

On Saturday 9-25 station 1 units were dispatched to 2 seperate MVA's during the day. The first was a head on collision with one critical trapped patient. Pt. was extricated and is in critical condition.
The second incident took place on Wilborn Ave. in the middle of town. The accident was a result of a car running a stopsign and being t-boned, causing the vehicle to roll over onto its side. Fire dept. personnell started stabilization/extrication efforts. Two patients suffered critical injuries.

MVA

2010-09-28T00:04:00.002-04:00

On 9-23 at approx. 6:10 company 1 units were dispatched to Old Cluster Springs Rd. for a MVA with entrapment and ejection. While en-route it was upgraded to 2 trapped-1ejected. Upon arrival the same was found. 1 Patient was pinned in the vehicle and the other was trapped. Extrication took approx. 15 minutes. Despite efforts of everyone, the pinned pt. coded and was unable to be revived en-route to the ER, and the other patients are in critical condition and were flown to trauma centers.

2010-09-01T11:13:00.004-04:00

8-31-10 At approx. 3 pm Sta. 1 and Sta. 2 fireman were called to a house fire on Maid Marian Ln. Upon arrival a single wide trailer was found with heavy smoke and fire. An interior attack was made and the fire was put out. Overhaul was conducted. All units cleared in about 2 hours.

Photo Courtesy of Gazette Virginian Newspaper..

2010-09-01T10:19:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, August 22 South Boston fireman responded to Leigh St. with a report of a house fire at an unknown address. Upon arrival a single story house was found with heavy smoke and fire showing from the front of the house. An interior attack was made, and ventilation followed. The homeowner was transported to Halifax ER with burns. No injuries to firefighters occured.

RIP

2010-03-13T08:43:00.002-05:00

This morning at approx 4:30 am Halifax County lost one of its finest firefighters, Head forester Alex Williamson. Alex was involved in a freak accident on Interstate 40 near Statesville NC around 9pm on Friday night. He was transported to Baptist Critical Care Hospital in Winston Salem NC where he was placed on life support. Family and friends gathered by his side for his last few hours. The difficult decision was made to take him off of life support about 4:30am.
Alex was a well known father, boss, firefighter, and most of all, friend, to many people throughout the state of Virginia and beyond. He has shared his skills with forest firefighting all over the United States throughout the years, and many have learned unforgettable lessons and made great memories that they will put to use everyday and cherish for the rest of their lives.
While we dont know why, we do know that he is up THERE wheeling bulldozers and doing what he loves.
REST EASY ALEX, YOU WILL BE MISSED!

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT's

2010-01-07T09:28:00.003-05:00

Photo courtesy of GAZETTE VIRGINIAN

On Jan 4, 2010 at approx. 10:00 am sta. 1 was dispatched for a MVA in front of Halifax Square Shopping Center. Upon arrival a 2 vehicle accident was found. All patients were able to be removed from the vehicles with out extrication. There was a infant in the passenger seat of one of the vehicles that sustained pretty serious injuries and had to be transported to a hospital outside of Halifax County.

As units were clearing from that accident an officer advised dispatch that he has been in an accident at Gold Course Rd. and Halifax Rd. (sta. 2 district) Sta. 1 unites responded since being in the area. Upon their arrival a 2 vehicle T-bone collision was found with heavy damage to both vehicles. The officer was able to self extricate but the driver of the Tahoe had to be extricated by firefighters on scene with the hydraulic tools. The driver of the Tahoe had injuries that would later have him to traveling to MCV in Richmond. The officer somehow luckily just sustained a hurt wrist, and im sure he was sore the next day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-24T23:31:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to everyone!! Everyone stay safe during the holidays!

Residential Structure Fire

2009-12-18T16:32:00.005-05:00

On December 16, 2009 at 1756 hrs. Station 1 and Station 2 was alerted for a structure fire at 2120 Jeffress Blvd. Upon arrival of the chief heavy smoke was found filling the street and pushing from the house. An interior attack found 3 rooms off in the rear of the house. At one time while the crews were getting the hose line stretched to the seat of the fire, the fire rolled from the rear room of the house to the front of the house over the attack team. The fire was contained and overhaul was conducted finding a lot of extension in the walls etc.

Help with the site!

2009-12-16T12:40:00.002-05:00

If anyone has pictures or anything else they would like me to put on here please send them in. The only way i get pictures is if i take them myself or someone else does. SO PLEASE TAKE SOME PICTURES! If anyone has anything they want people that may be looking at this site to see please send it in to me. If you have any ideas about something i can do better please do that as well. Just leave a comment in the comment box to tell me what you think.

Residential Structure Fire

2009-12-11T13:37:00.006-05:00

At 6:45 am this morning, station 1 was alerted for a house fire and occupants unaccounted for. Upon arrival of the first engine, heavy smoke was found and a forward lay of 5" line was laid down the street. An interior attack was made, knocking a large volume of fire down. Primary and secondary searches proved negative for any possible people trapped. Extensive overhaul was conducted and the SBPD investigator was called in to investigate the cause. Units were on the scene for approx. 2 1/2 hours.
This fire is believed to be arson. The police and investigative teams are still investigating the fire.
Just before the units cleared station 1 was alerted for a MVA, which proved to be a minor accident, and so far we have been busy with the normal ems runs the rest of the day.

Sorry about this picture, my camera battery was going dead.

The above picture was taken by a Gazette Virginian Photographer.

Residential Structure Fire

2009-11-26T23:53:00.002-05:00

On November 25, at approx. 12:00 station 1 was alerted for smoke coming from a house. Upon arrival a corrected address on an adjacent street was found. A single story home was found with heavy smoke and fire conditions on the front side of the house. Station 2 was on automatic aide, bringing 2 trucks and about 8 people. Firefighters entered the structure from the rear of the house, iniatiating an interior attack. Fire was found in 4 rooms, and smoke and heat damage ruined the rest of the house. All extension was found and extinguished.
Unfortunately the house was home to a member of the South Boston Fire Company.

commercial structure fire

2009-11-19T14:28:00.004-05:00

At 6:00 pm on 11-18-09 Sta. 2 and Sta. 1 were dispatched to the old Burlington Industries mill on Cowford Rd. in Halifax. Upon arrival a transformer outside was found arching and smoking. When crews entered the building to check for extension lite smoke conditions were found. Fire was found in the wood floor and some of the heavy timbers that made the roof were smoldering as well. Interior crews contained the fires on the floor, while a roof team opened up scuttle hatches on the roof and cut ventilation holes, which were also used to find the smoldering timbers. The burning timbers were then cut out and removed, then foamed. Crews were on scene for approx. 3.5 hours. Sta. 1 sent one engine and the ladder truck. Sta. 2 had 2 engines and an equipment truck.

Residential Structure Fire

2009-11-11T09:45:00.002-05:00

On November 10 at 4:30 pm Sta.1 was requested to assist Halifax Fire Dept. with a vehicle fire that had been upgraded to a house fire. Upon arrival units found a car on fire with extension into the house. Station 1 assisted with an engine and manpower. Sta. 1 personnell were on scene for approximately 1 hour before returning to service.

Residential Structure Fire

2009-11-10T14:13:00.002-05:00

At 1200 sta. 1 was dispatched to a structure fire at 727 Marshall Ave. Upon arrival a two story single family dwelling was found with nothing showing. Upon investigation fire was found in the kitchen. With that being found a hydrant was put in service. Fire was found in the kitchen going up the walls and starting to roll across the ceiling. The fire was knocked down and with no extension and utilities controlled, all sta. 1 units cleared.

Second Worker This Week!

2009-10-23T00:14:00.005-04:00

Oct. 22, 2009 at 1340 hrs. Sta. 1 and Sta 2. were alerted for a structure fire at 214 Cherry St. After units marked en route dispatched notified that a police officer on scene advised smoke and fire visible. Dark black smoke could be seen from the middle school area. Once on scene an aggressive interior attack was made, putting a good knock on the fire. Extension was then checked, finding fire, heavy smoke, and alot of heat on the second floor. The fire was controlled, and extensive overhaul was started. The homeowner said he was cooking, which caused a grease fire. Units were on scene for approx. 2 hours.

View from kitchen
front door.
Steps upstairs
upstairs bedroom

BUSY WEEK SO FAR..

2009-10-21T09:02:00.006-04:00

On Sunday night about 11:30 pm Halifax Co. Search and Rescue Team was called to search for a alzheimers patient in the Oak Level area. When the team was forming up at Oak Level VFD, Halifax Co. Sheriffs Dept. search dogs found the missing man. Except with being cold, he only suffered minor cuts on his feet.

Monday morning at 10 am Halifax Fire Dept. was alerted for smoke coming from a house. Station 1 and 11 were added to the run. Upon arrival heavy smoke was found coming from the whole house, and reported to be a person possibly trapped inside. First arriving volunteers tried to make entry and were pushed out due to high heat and smoke conditions. A 1 3/4 attack line was put in service on the interior of the house once personnell arrived. Hi heat conditions made for a difficult attack but the fire was nocked down and held to a back bedroom. Unfortunately the family dog died as a result of smoke inhalation. Units conducted overhaul and cleared.

Tuesday evening at 6 pm station 6 (Turbeville) was alerted for a tractor trailer fire on Hwy 58. Station 1 was added to the run for second due. South Boston engine was the first arriving truck on the scene. The tires on the trailer were burning and set the load of cardboard that filled the 53' trailer up. Firefighters started cutting the side of the trailer away and started unloading the load from the rear. With the fire knocked down at the rear, members went to the top and started cutting holes and stopping the fire using handlines. The fire was stopped at about half the load of the truck. Sta. 1 units were on scene for approx. 4 hours.

http://www.wset.com/news/stories/1009/670487.html

Structure Fire

2009-10-12T01:20:00.003-04:00

At 1420 hrs. Station 1 was dispatched for a residential structure fire. Upon arrival fire was found on the outside wall of the house. With members at 2 different training exercises, manpower was limited. A interior attack was iniated. Heavy fire was found in the attic area of the structure. Fire was finally contained and units cleared and returned.

Wildfire Training

2009-10-12T01:00:00.004-04:00

On Oct. 10-11 four SB Fireman attended the "Nottaway Training Expo". The group took the Wildland Urban Interface class. The school started on Saturday morning with a greeting from various county leaders, and South Side Vol. Firemans Assoc. officers. We were in the class room for about 4 hours discussing forest fire tactics, and rules of the fireground. Then after lunch it was to the woods, where we practiced cutting firelines, and some got to get hands on time with the bulldozers that are used to cut fire lines on forest fires..

On Sunday we got to the woods, and after safety briefings, giving out equipment, and waiting for the ground to dry, the students took to the cutover area and began burning. It was tough getting the wet ground to burn but a decent fire was started and the land was burned. All 4 of us really learned alot of things, and got to do stuff that we probably wouldn't be able to do anytime else. Thanks to everyone that made this class a success!!

Residential Structure Fire

2009-10-01T14:09:00.003-04:00

Sept. 30, 2009 about 1700 hours, South Boston Fire Dept. was alerted for a house fire. Upon arrival lite smoke was coming from the eves of the house. An interior attack was iniated. Fire was found in the occupants bedroom. A neighbor assisted the elderly homeowner out of his house before the fire dept. arrived. The home owner was transported to HRH by the rescue squad for smoke inhalation.

Structure Fire in Halifax

2009-09-26T12:26:00.003-04:00

On September 25 at 8:10 am Halifax and Scottsburg fire depts. were dispatched to a kitchen fire on Bethel Rd. Upon arrival fire was found coming from a window on the backside of the house, and at that time Triangle and South Boston was requested for manpower. We were on scene for approx 1.5 hours assisting in overhaul of the whole kitchen, and checking for extension.

September Training

2009-09-13T22:10:00.004-04:00

The monthly drill for September was car fires. We spent time discussing different parts of vehicles and the dangers they may have. Then hands on training included attacking fires in different parts of vehicles, and using the circular cut-off saw.

Hwy 360 Wreck

2009-09-06T10:37:00.003-04:00

At 8:11 am sta. 1 was dispatched to Highway 360 for a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival a single vehicle accident was found with one patient free of the vehicle. The van went out of the road approx. 150 yards up the road. He also somehow managed to go air borne for a few feet, snap a telephone pole in half, flip the van, and jump the drainage ditch, and came out of it all with just a small scratch on his head.

Last Week

2009-08-26T18:20:00.003-04:00

South Boston Fire Fighters were put to work on two working fires last week. The first was Sunday night the 16 about 9:30. Initial dispatch was for a burglar alarm and upon arrival of a State Trooper, Fire Dept was added. Upon arrival Smoke was seen and Station 7 was alerted for water. Interior attack found a room off with moderate fire damage. A hot water heater was at fault, and heavy water damage was done to the whole house from the water heater.

This past Sunday South Boston Fire was called for 2nd due assistance for a structure fire in Cluster Springs first due. Smoke and fire was noted upon arrival and an aggressive interior attack was iniated. With fire in the whole attic space of a modular home, it took fire fighters from Cluster Springs, South Boston, and Virgilina Fire Depts. approx. 3 hours to fully extinguish the fire.

Picture courtesy of Gazette Virginian

NAPA Store Fire in Halifax contd.

2009-08-07T02:27:00.001-04:00

http://www.vafirenews.com/2009/06/napa-auto-parts-store-fire-in-halifax/

Sorry for the 2 month delay on pictures!

Storms pound county

2009-08-07T02:18:00.002-04:00

Heavy rain, wind, hail and lighting hit Halifax County hard last night. The county Fire & EMS agencies stayed quiet, with exception of an outbuilding fire, tree on a vehicle w. occupants trapped, and a possible structure fire. After the storm passed South Boston Fire was dispatched to a vehicle accident at the intersection of Hwy. 58 and 360. Upon arrival units found a single car that had hit the traffic light head on. The patient was out of the vehicle and walking around. With a few cuts he refused to go to the hospital, and took a trip to the Halifax Hilton instead. Before we could clear from that wreck another one was dispatched at the intersection of Hwy. 58 and 501. Units were on scene within a minute to find a tractor trailer vs. police car. Heavy damage was done to the police car and moderate damage to the tractor trailer. Police officer was out of the vehicle upon our arrival, and went to HRH to be checked out. Sta 1. units controlled hazards and returned.

Working Fire in Town of Halifax

2009-06-29T14:51:00.004-04:00

June 28, at approx. 2100 hrs. station 2 (halifax) was alerted for a commercial structure fire @ the NAPA Auto Parts Store. With units en-route, central advised smoke could be seen from the rear of the structure. With this being noted, Station 1 was added to the run. Halifax first engine arrived, and reported a heavy fire load in the rear and about a 1/4 of the way up the roof, and started a blitz attack. South Bostons Engine arrived and did a reverse lay about 700' down highway 501 to a hydrant and established water supply. A interior attack was made, but with no head way being made the decision was made to pull everyone out and start a defensive attack. Then the ladder pipe and deck guns went into operation. Units were on the scene until approx. 2 am, and had to return the next day to extinguish some hot spots.
When the fire was said and done, Halifax, South Boston, Triangle, and Liberty responded to the scene with manpower and engines.

Pictures will be posted soon, so check back!!

Joint Station Training

2009-06-29T14:08:00.002-04:00

On June 20 South Boston Volunteers and Halifax Volunteers held a joint station Vehicle Extrication training. The day was mostly spent doing vehicle stabilization, and scene size ups. Then later in the evening everyone got to experience "tool time" with all of the hydraulic tools, and any other tool they wanted to use.. After all the trucks were put back into service everyone that participated, enjoyed a cook out.
But as luck would have it, about a hour into the eating station 1 was alerted for smoke in a large commercial building. Units responded and had moderate smoke in the office of the industry. A malfunctioning breaker box was the cause, all smoke was cleared and sta. 1 units returned.

Future

2009-06-16T00:03:00.001-04:00

I will be posting more in the future, Send pictures if you want me to post them..