Firefighter injured during large house fire
A WEST Jackson firefighter was sent to a hospital for heat exhaustion during a large fire that destroyed a house on Sunday in the Clover Mill subdivision. Firefighter Michael Becker was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he was treated and released on Sunday.
The incident started when a fire was reported at a two-story house on Cottonwood Road in Jefferson. When firefighters arrived, about 50 percent of the house was on fire.
West Jackson fire chief Ben Stephens said only about five people were inside the estimated 2,500 square-foot house fighting the blaze. West Jackson firefighters were upstairs when Stephens said he and the assistant fire chief from the Jackson Trail Volunteer Fire Department came inside to help.
While pulling down ceiling, Stephens said the Jackson Trail assistant fire chief said, “firefighter down,” and he noticed Becker lying at the top of the stairs.
Becker was taken out of the burning house and treated by EMS workers. Jackson County Med 3 took him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Stephens said while other firefighters were removing Becker from the house and helping, only two other firefighters were inside fighting the blaze until another unit arrived.
About that time, firefighters went on the defensive and West Jackson and Jackson Trail firefighters left the house, according to Stephens.
The house was listed as a total loss and the cause remains under investigation by the Jackson Trail Volunteer Fire Department, according to Jackson County public safety director Steve Nichols. No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no other injuries.
The Jackson County Correctional Institute Fire Department also responded to the fire. The house is located in Jackson Trail’s fire district.
West Jackson fire chief Ben Stephens said only about five people were inside the estimated 2,500 square-foot house fighting the blaze. West Jackson firefighters were upstairs when Stephens said he and the assistant fire chief from the Jackson Trail Volunteer Fire Department came inside to help.
While pulling down ceiling, Stephens said the Jackson Trail assistant fire chief said, “firefighter down,” and he noticed Becker lying at the top of the stairs.
Becker was taken out of the burning house and treated by EMS workers. Jackson County Med 3 took him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Stephens said while other firefighters were removing Becker from the house and helping, only two other firefighters were inside fighting the blaze until another unit arrived.
About that time, firefighters went on the defensive and West Jackson and Jackson Trail firefighters left the house, according to Stephens.
The house was listed as a total loss and the cause remains under investigation by the Jackson Trail Volunteer Fire Department, according to Jackson County public safety director Steve Nichols. No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no other injuries.
The Jackson County Correctional Institute Fire Department also responded to the fire. The house is located in Jackson Trail’s fire district.
Joe, why didn't grab a hose and help? Maybe you could have been part of that extra "effort", "staff", and "man power"....RIDICULOUS.
The artical states that the house was at least 50% engulfed in flames when the first units responded. By this time the house was pretty much gone. It also states that West Jackson, Jackson Trail, and Jackson County CI responded. By the time the other departments could have got there I would almost be willing to bet the house would have been completely gone.
Joe, if you so more help was needed why not go to the next meeting and become a volunteer firefighter??