Wallace home destroyed in fire
District No.1 firefighters attack the fire from the west side yard with multiple hose lines.
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Flames roll out of the roof on the south side of the residence on Cypress St. in Wallace. Allegedly starting in the basement, the fire quickly rose and spread through the rest of the house.
A firefighter carries a hose line away from the home as crews establish a second front at the rear of the house.
Chief Aaron Cagle assists firefighter Cyle Hanan with a frozen hose as the crew get ready to attack the south side of the home.
Chief Aaron Cagle directs crews to their positions over the radio while firefighters prepare to spring into action.
Photo courtesy of John Miller/ It sure was cold out their! Firefighter Miller shows off a fire helmet with an impressive layer of ice on it.
WALLACE — A more than 100-year-old home has been declared a “total loss” by fire officials following a raging fire that burned out much of its interior on Tuesday.
Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 reports on Dec. 26 shortly after 10 a.m., crews received tones for a structure fire in the Cypress and River area of Wallace.
Upon arrival at 120 Cypress St., firefighters were told by Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office deputies (who were first on scene) that no one was inside the burning home.
Armed with this information, firefighter John Miller said crews were able to quickly gear up and enter the structure after making an initial attack on the exterior.
“Our crews were met with heavy smoke and high temperatures once the front door was open. That gave the fire some clean air, forcing our crews to exit the structure after a few minutes.”
Miller explained that with no one inside or in danger, it was the right call for the crew to pull out. “The safety of my crew comes first,” he added.
Following a quick size-up of the situation, fire chief Aaron Cagle requested mutual aid from the Mullan Volunteer Fire Department and other off-duty staff and volunteers.
The decision for additional units was made not only because of the intensity of the fire, but also the threat it posed to closely neighboring homes and structures.
The structure at 120 Cypress is flanked by homes on its east and west sides. The home on its east side only sits roughly three feet away, so close that the eaves of their roofs touched.
Fire crews set up initial hose lines in front of the home from the street and the side yard. As more units arrived, a second set of hose lines were established at the rear of the home — the area where the fire was most concentrated.
Cagle said that crews used a combination of water and flame-retardant foam to keep the flames from spreading to the other structures.
The weather at the time also played a factor in firefighting efforts. The cold temperatures (hovering around 17 degrees) helped limit debris and ash from igniting other houses, but consistently froze rescue gear including breathing masks and hoses.
Crews worked into the night and were able to contain the blaze to the original home. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
SCFD1 states that the official cause is unknown at this time, but unconfirmed reports from witnesses and SCSO deputies suggest the fire started when the homeowner attempted to warm frozen water lines in the basement, which led to insulation igniting. The flames then spread to the bathroom and kitchen area on the first floor near the south side. It is unknown at this time what the homeowner was using to heat the pipes.
Cagle was incredibly thankful for the assistance his crews received and was pleased with everyone’s effort.
“In an area such as ours with limited resources, it means so much to have neighboring agencies respond with support and help to keep us all safe in times of need,” he said. “Firefighters worked over 12 hours, while responding to multiple calls, to ensure a safe outcome despite the freezing temperatures, and many thanks to everyone involved.”
In response to the fire, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise money for the individuals affected. Allen Overman, brother of one of the victims and creator of the campaign, stated on the website that, “My younger sister lost everything in a house fire this morning 12/26/17. All people and pets got out OK, but everything else was lost. The insurance on the house was for structure only and does not cover content of the house. They and their boys will need to rebuild their lives with a little help from friends and family. Anything that you can give is greatly appreciated.”
The campaign can be found on the site at https://www.gofundme.com/complete-loss-house-fire.