The Danville Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 129 Nelson Avenue at 2:17am. Apparatus arrived at a one-story house at 2:22am with heavy smoke conditions inside the house. The occupant was outside the house. The occupant advised a cat was still inside the house. Engine 2 entered the house and found fire in the living room. The fire was quickly extinguished. A search of the house located the cat in a different part of the home. The cat was brought outside and resuscitation efforts started. Unfortunately the cat did not survive.
Fire damage to the house was limited to the living room. Smoke and heat damaged the rest of the residence. The home is not habitable until repairs can be made. The cause of the fire was careless smoking. The occupant received burns to the hands, feet, chest, and experienced smoke inhalation. The Danville Life Saving Crew arrived with the DFD and they handled all care of the occupant. The patient was transported by the DLSC to the SOVAH Emergency Room.
The DFD responded with three engines (Third Avenue, Piney Forest, and Airport Drive), one ladder (Lynn Street), and three support vehicles. 19 personnel remained on scene for one hour and forty-five minutes. The DLSC, Danville Police Dept., and Danville Utilities assisted on the call.
The call was initiated by someone who heard a person screaming for help. Police officers arrived and found the resident on the front porch calling out for help. They moved the occupant off the porch and into a safe location. DPD officers checked the house but did not attempt to enter due to smoke and heat conditions. They contacted 911 dispatchers to have the DFD respond.
Brian K. Alderson - Battalion Chief