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ORANGE, OH – Shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2008, the tones were dropped for the West Lafayette Fire Department (WLFD). The dispatcher advised the fire company that they had a call from a home owner on Oxford Township Road 506 in Orange stating that their home was on fire and that everyone was out of the house. Also dispatched to the fire, as a part of the first alarm assignment, was the Newcomerstown Fire Department

West Lafayette quickly sent engines 602 and 605 en route to the scene. A Coshocton County Sheriff Deputy arrived on scene and reported that the front of the home was fully engulfed. With that news, WLFD Captain Chad Haines requested a second alarm go out for water tankers. The call then went out to the Bakersville Fire Department and the Three Rivers Fire District. Both departments sent tankers and extra manpower.

WLFD units arrived on scene and quickly got to work pulling hand lines and establishing a water supply. Newcomerstown units began arriving on scene with manpower and more water. They also got down to business of putting out the blaze. All personnel on the fire ground were made aware of possible live electrical wires on the North side of the house.

As second alarm units began arriving on scene, a water shuttle operation was put into action as the tankers dumped their loads into a portable reservoir.

As firefighters knocked down the fire from the front of the home, more fire fighters started an interior attack at the rear of the home. Conditions had worsened in the front of the home as flames were shooting out the second floor windows, and the attack window. The order to evacuate the building was given by long horn blasts on the trucks to signal those in the structure to get out immediately. After accounting for all of the men that were inside, the fire fighters went into a defensive mode, and large amounts of water was pumped into the house to knock down the fire.

With the majority of the fire knocked down, this then gave the firefighters a chance to work on the hot spots. They cut a hole in the outside wall at the second floor to give access for hitting hot spots, and they also cut a vent into the roof to allow the heat to escape and for hitting more hot spots.

About 30 firefighters were on hand to fight the fire along with a crew from the Coshocton County EMS were on standby in case of any injuries which fortunately there was not. Firefighters cleared the scene after being there for about four hours.

Also assisting on scene was Tom Dile from the Salvation Army with cool soft drinks for those on hand. Also the American Red Cross was on scene in assist the displaced family.