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COSHOCTON, OH – Shortly before noon, on Saturday November 1, 2008, a call came into the 911 center reporting that a home at 1801 Walnut Street was on fire, and there was the possibility of someone still in the home. The tones were dropped for the Coshocton Fire Department and Engine 303 and Ladder 307 quickly went en route. Finding the burning home was not a problem for the firefighters. The burning home was located on a hill in town, and the smoke was visible from the apron of the fire station, and from the town of West Lafayette 7 miles away.

While firefighters were en route, a passerby in a car stopped at the fire scene and ran up to the home, and assisted the home owner out of the burning house. Firefighters were relieved to find out that no one was in the home. Firefighters arrived on scene to find the home engulfed in extensive smoke and fire showing on the patio side of the home (B-side).

An attack line was pulled and advanced toward the patio fire as other firefighters established a water supply at the hydrant in front of the home. With the water supply established, more attack lines were pulled and advanced into the home for a more aggressive interior attack.

By 12:05 p.m., a request for a second alarm was put out for the Jackson Township FD responding to the scene with more manpower, and the Conesville FD responding with five aboard went to cover the Coshocton’s Hale Station. Later three of the five men would be transferred to the fire scene for additional manpower.

Firefighters continued to fight the fire as mutual aid manpower began to arrive. A ventilation hole was cut into the roof on the back side of the home’s roof. Soon the fire was brought under control and was marked contained at 12:39. Firefighters remained on scene for another three and a half hours for extensive overhaul of the home and investigation.

The probable cause of the fire remains under investigation and the home sustained heavy fire damage.

The Coshocton County EMS was on scene during the fire suppression operations keeping track of the firefighters’ vital signs. The intense heat was a fatiguing factor while fighting this fire.

Also assisting on scene were Deputies from the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, and several members of the Coshocton County R.E.A.C.T. for traffic control. Shirley Dile from the Salvation Army provided cool soft drinks and snacks for the firefighters.