Photos: Snow-Covered Fireground Challenges NC Crews at House Fire

Nash County firefighters had to contend with bitter cold temperatures and a snow-covered fireground at a Jan. 5 house fire.

A neighbor called Nash County 911 just before 11 to say a Barnes Hill Church Road home was on fire and a female resident was still inside. Stations 4 (West Mount), 14 (Nashville) and 15 (Coopers) were dispatched along with Nash EMS units.

Heavy smoke and fire were showing when crews arrived and the neighbor told firefighters that the occupant had been removed the woman.

Access to the home was hampered because it sat at the end of a 1,000-foot dirt road that was covered with four inches of snow and coated with ice. Crews from Station 4 dropped 900 feet of 5-inch supply line from the road to the scene and water tenders were called from Stations 11 (Sharpsburg) and (12 Red Oaks).

The temperature was 12 degrees and a strong wind was present as firefighters made an aggressive interior attack in the rear bedroom. Firefighters had a difficult time trying to get onto the tin roof that was covered with ice and snow.

Crews retreated from the structure and used a 2 1/2-inch hoseline with three 1 3/4-inch hoselines to bring the fire under control with a defensive attack.

A total of 48 firefighters responded to the scene.

Nash EMS units evaluated the neighbor for smoke inhalation and transported the occupant to the hospital for treatment.