The Danville Fire Department was dispatched to a fire alarm at 600 Main Street (Danville House). While the initial units were responding, the call was upgraded to a structure fire on the eighth floor. Engine 1 arrived at the eighth floor and found apartment #802 filled with moderate smoke conditions. There had been a fire in the kitchen. The fire had been extinguished by a properly operating sprinkler system. The occupant was still in the apartment. He was led to another section of the building. After confirming there was no additional fire, the engine company stopped the flow of water from the sprinkler head. Additional fire companies checked the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors for smoke. Water was running down into apartments on the seventh floor. The DFD redirected water out a window and covered furniture and other valuables with salvage covers. Electricity to the apartments affected was also turned off.
The DFD arrived at 1:44 pm and cleared from Main Street at 3:40 pm. 19 fire personnel responded on 4 engines, 1 ladder, and 2 support vehicles. There were no injuries.
One apartment on the eighth floor received smoke, heat, and water damage. One apartment on the seventh floor received water damage. One occupant and her pet received help from the Danville Chapter of the American Red Cross. The second occupant will stay with family. All other tenants were allowed to return to their respective apartments.
The cause of the fire was unattended cooking. The DFD reminds everyone to stay alert and in the kitchen when cooking. The sprinkler system at the Danville House kept this fire from becoming a large fire that would have displaced many residents.
Brian K. Alderson
Battalion Chief
