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| Four Families Displaced in Fort Oglethorpe Apartment Fire FORT OGLETHORPE, GA – At about 11:15AM, Monday, March 8, 2010 the Catoosa county 9-1-1 Communications Center began receiving frantic calls reporting an apartment fire at Cedarbrooke Apartments, 50 General Davis Road, Fort Oglethorpe. A full response was immediately initiated. Assistant Chief Glenn Davis, 903, reported a large column of smoke visible in that area as he was en route. When Chief Davis arrived he radioed that he had a two story, wood frame apartment building with five apartments. One apartment on the end was about twenty five percent involved and fire was rapidly moving toward the others. Fort Oglethorpe Engine 1 laid about 900 feet of supply line on their way in from a hydrant at General Davis and Stuart Street. The immediately pulled attack lines from the engine and began an aggressive attack on the fire. Fort Oglethorpe Ladder 1 and East Ridge (TN) Engine 1 were right behind Engine 1. Ladder 1 raised the aerial to be ready. As Fort Oglethorpe Engine 8, Squad 8, Catoosa County Engine 3 and Catoosa County Ladder 1 arrived all personnel went to work pulling lines to various areas and fighting fire. Prison firefighters with the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC-9) arrived a few minutes later and pitched in to help. Through an aggressive, well planned attack on the fire, the majority of the building was saved. Only one of the five apartments was destroyed. A second apartment did receive some fire damage as well as heat and water damage. The remaining three were relatively unscathed. Total damage was estimated at about $300,000. The fire marshal and building inspector along with apartment management, decided, however, that all apartments should remain unoccupied for now until further inspections can be made. The American Red Cross responded to the scene and provided assistance to the four displaced families. One apartment was unrented at the time of the fire. The Rossville fire Department had an engine company backed in to Fort Oglethorpe Station 1 for coverage and the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department also provided coverage for Catoosa County with an engine company at their Station 1. Angel EMS provided medical coverage. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. Fort Oglethorpe Air/Light 1 was on the scene for air service and rehab. Fort Oglethorpe Police provided traffic and pedestrian control. The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation at this time but it does not appear suspicious. |