Apex firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire around 3:30a on Thursday 9/21. Engines 1, 2, 3 and 4, Tower 1, SR 1, Battalion Chief 1 and Car 1 responded along with Apex PD and Apex EMS. Mutual aid units came from Cary and Holly Springs. Morrisville FD was called in to cover our district as all of our resources were tied up.
Our first indication that this was not going to be a standard room-and-contents fire came while units were still enroute to the scene, when dispatch informed us that callers had reported several large explosions. First-arriving units found a two-story residential structure fully involved, confirmed that the occupants had escaped, and set up a defensive attack. The three vehicles in the driveway were also on fire, and extinguishment was made challenging by the fact that the heavy garage door frame had been blown out and was laying on top of the vehicles. Several large propane tanks in the garage fueled the blaze. Crews stretching a handline to the rear of the structure also found several large propane tanks in the back yard. Thick smoke and live power lines posed additional hazards initially to firefighters.
Debris was scattered over a large area by the explosions. Pieces from the garage door and the front door landed across the street in neighbors' front yards, and most of the windows were blown out from their frames.
Fire crews used handlines, a deck gun and an elevated stream from Tower 1 to bring the flames under control. There were no injuries during the incident. There was significant collapse of the structure in the main area of fire, and following the investigation the house was demolished.
Photos by Rosemary Thornton
One of the neighbors managed to take these photos as the scene unfolded. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate browser window.
These photos were taken prior to our arrival
The garage side of the house was quickly engulfed in flames
Fire spread quickly, fueled by large propane tanks in the garage
Engine 3 arrives
Tower 1 is close behind
Engine 3 sets up the deck gun
Nothing but fire
Crews perform a defensive attack
Apex EMS treated the homeowners and stood by to assist with rehab
Crews have the main fire under control
Debris was scattered everywhere
Mangled pieces of the garage door ended up in the yard across the street
There was significant collapse of the structure in the main area of fire
Tower 1 was set up to apply a water stream from the top
The extent of the damage was even more evident after the sun came up
Apex fire crews remained on scene most of the day to assist the homeowners with salvaging whatever they could, and support the investigation. Fire Marshal Karl Huegerich provided the following photos.
