On Sunday, July 18th at 12:47 pm, Carver Fire Company’s 1, 2 and 3 were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the area of Plymouth Street. While Fire Company’s were in route, heavy smoke in that area of town was reported from a helicopter flying nearby and relayed back to our Fire Dispatch. Additionally, a neighbor also called 911 reporting a house on fire. First on scene, Captain Froehlich (201), who lives only a few houses away, reported heavy fire showing on the front of the structure (A side), declaring a working fire. A crew of six Firefighters on Engine 2 arrived within 5 minutes and were ordered to stretch multiple large attack lines and begin fire attack on the exterior of the structure. Crews from Rescue 1, Engines 1 and 3 assisted with exterior and interior fire operations. Numerous attempts were made to gain entry into the structure to search for possible occupants. Under heavy fire conditions, interior searches were immediately conducted in the basement and on the first floor. Access to the second floor was severely comprised due to a floor collapse and heavy fire conditions. There were initial indications that led Firefighters to believe that the homeowners were still inside the house. Fortunately, about an hour into the incident, a neighbor was able to reach the homeowners by phone, and notified our Fire Dispatch that there were no occupants inside the structure. Fire Tankers and Brush Breakers from Carver and Plympton shuttled 36,000 gallons of water into the fire scene from a nearby cranberry reservoir for fire suppression. Due to the building construction of all pine boards on the exterior and interior, Firefighters worked the fire incident for five hours, as the fire had spread to void spaces throughout the house. Due to the high heat and humidity of the day, Mutual Aid Engine Companies were brought in from Plymouth Fire and Middleboro Fire to relieve and assist Carver Firefighters on scene. Carver EMS assisted on scene setting up a Firefighter rehab sector, supplying needed hydration and monitoring vital signs of our Firefighters. Carver Police closed down a section of Plymouth Street allowing Fire Tankers and Firefighters to safely operate within the fire scene area. A Kingston Engine Company covered our Headquarters Station during the incident, responding to any reported emergencies within our town. The fire is considered accidental and is under investigation by Carver Fire and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office. Forty-four Carver Firefighters, along with 8 Mutual Aid Firefighters worked the incident, with no injuries reported. Although the home is considered a total loss, Firefighters made a valiant effort to search for residents inside and save as many of their personal belongings as possible. (Photo’s by Fire Photographers John Walcek, Tyler Reardon, Tyler Sampson, John Dishaw and Carver Assistant DeputyChief, Jesses Boyle)
