Just after 10 a.m. on Monday, a monitored alarm company alerted the Shelby County Fire Department of a possible fire within a 3,400 square foot home in the 1400 block of Stable Run.
Engine no. 61 reported smoke showing from the home. Three engine companies from Shelby County, one from Arlington and one from Memphis arrived on scene, and two dozen firefighters were working this emergency at its peak.
Firefighters found the seat of the fire in the kitchen in the area of a stove and battled the heat, smoke and fire for just over half an hour. One fire fighter from Arlington received a small laceration from encountering debris while attacking the flames. Damage to the home is moderate.
The homeowners were not there at the time of the alarm.
The actual cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The high outdoor temperatures created challenges for those firefighters who were entering the burning home, and several had to receive intravenous fluids before they returned to work. Paramedics were also on scene to monitor the health and wellbeing of the firefighters.
In this case, the fact that the home had a monitored alarm system resulted in a saved home.
“This call certainly shortened the amount of time to alert the fire fighters,” said Shelby County interim fire chief Dale Burress. “As a result, the surge of equipment was able to shorten response time and allow the firefighters to begin attacking these flames before they consumed the entire home. Quick notification is a key factor in limiting fire damage.”
