Lt. Shawn L. Jones, PIO/Assistant Fire Marshal
City of Richmond Fire Prevention Office

December 18 the City was busy with nearly 10 inches of snow at 2320 hours Q-1, Q-11, Q-8, Q-5, Q-6, R-1, Safety 2 and BC-1 were dispatched to the 500 block of N. 33rd Street for a reported house fire. BC-1 arrived on scene with heavy fire showing from Division 2 on the C side of a two story wood frame structure with fire spreading to the B and D exposure he immediately requested the 2nd alarm. Units did have some difficulty with responding to this incident due to weather conditions. Fire did spread to the B and D exposure. Units placed several 2 ½ in service to protect the exposures and the original fire structure. Units entered the house and begin fire attack. Chief 2 arrived on location and immediately did a 360 of the incident and discovered conditions on the C side had deteriorating conditions and immediately ordered the evacuation of the structure. Emergency communication activated the evacuation tones and units quickly departed the structure, within 60 seconds there was partial collapse of the roof. This truly was a near miss for our personnel. The fire was marked under control shortly after midnight. Units remained on scene assisting the fire investigators well into the morning. The fire is under investigation.