The Danville Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle fire at 1351 Westover Drive this afternoon at 4:34 pm. The call was upgraded while en route to a full alarm structure fire assignment. Crews arrived at 4:38 pm and found a small one story house with heavy fire and smoke showing from the carport and house. Engine 6’s crew (from Westover Drive Fire Station) pulled a hand line and began fighting the vehicle fire. Engine 2 (from Piney Forest Rd Fire Station) arrived on scene, established a water supply, secured the utilities and pulled an additional hand line to attack the fire. Crews were hindered on scene as an electric line had burned into and fell to the ground. The area was cordoned off and crews continued to extinguish the house and vehicle fires. A positive pressure fan was set up for ventilation of the house. A rapid intervention crew was established by Engine 3’s crew (from Industrial Ave Fire Station). Ladder 1’s crew (from Lynn Street Fire Station) searched the structure and found no one inside the house. The fire was knocked down and determined to be under control at 5:19 pm.
The owner was home at the time of the fire and was located safe outside the house. The vehicle was a total loss and the house sustained moderate heat and smoke damage to the kitchen and attic area with minor smoke damage to the rest of the house.
The Danville Fire Department responded with three engines, a ladder truck, four command units, a safety officer, a utility vehicle and a Fire Marshal. Twenty two fire personnel were on the scene for 2 hours and 20 minutes. The Danville Life Saving Crew, Danville Electric Department, Danville Water and Gas Department and Danville Police Department assisted on scene.
The cause of the fire was investigated by the Fire Marshal’s office and determined to be a shorted out battery in the vehicle under the carport.
Chris Key
Battalion Chief