Rio Linda, CA- Just after 11am Tuesday March 18th, Metro Fire crews were dispatched to the 8200 block of Manhart Way to find a working fire in a home. The fire, which had started in a bedroom, quickly spread to the attic and other areas of the residence. Crews quickly entered the home and began attacking the fire. The home’s occupants were reported to have evacuated themselves before crews arrived, but a rapid search was still completed to verify that nobody was in danger.
Four engines, two trucks and one medic engaged in fire attack, searching, ventilating, salvage and overhaul. Significant fire, smoke and heat damage occurred to the interior of the residence, but crews were able to save the exterior, approximately $100,000 in personal property.
Metro Fire paramedics on scene evaluated one person with a medical complaint, but he declined transport to a hospital. No firefighters were injured in the fire. The cause is undetermined, though it was found to have started in a bedroom.
Since 2008, Metro Fire has been forced to close six stations to address a significant loss of property tax revenues. “The station closest to this home was not one of the closed stations, so the engine was available in quarters. Fire crews were able to arrive quickly and knock down the fire before more damage could occur, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case.” Battalion Chief Maurice Johnson simply stated, “When the emergency is yours, especially with a fire like this, response time is all that really matters.”
Information and photos courtesy Sacramento Metro Fire and CelebrityExaminer.com