#### NEWS RELEASE ####
For Immediate Release
08/26/2010
Johnson City Apartment Fire
On August 26th at 12:32 a.m. the Johnson City Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 213 E. Unaka Avenue. The structure was a three story, wood frame residence that had been converted into a seven unit apartment. The first unit arrived on the scene within three minutes and found flames visible from the right side of the dwelling’s second and third floors. Occupants were alerted to the fire by smoke detectors that had been placed throughout the building. Personnel from the Johnson City Police Department, under the command of Lt. Brian Rice, were assisting in the evacuation of occupants from the building. A second alarm was called bringing a total of four engines, one command unit, one rehab unit, one ladder truck and one rescue unit. There were a total of 16 fire department personnel that responded. In addition, Washington/Johnson City EMS dispatched one rescue unit, one ambulance, and a shift commander unit.
The first arriving fire companies were able to contain the spread of the fire with an aggressive interior attack in a second floor unit. The structure was built using balloon frame construction which has the exterior walls assembled with wood studs that are continuous from basement to the roof. There are open channels between each pair of studs that extends to the attic. Each of these channels provides a path that enables a fire to spread unrestricted and without being visible. Incident Commander, Captain Stanley Daniels said that “the firefighters did an excellent job in anticipating that fire might extend through these voids by opening them up and extinguishing the fire and preventing rapid vertical extension”. Captain Daniels went on to say “this is a good time to remind everyone that all residences should have working smoke alarms because they save lives”.
Three apartments and the attic suffered direct flame and heat damage. Four apartments suffered smoke and water damage. Twelve occupants were affected by the fire. The American Red Cross responded to the scene and assisted the victims. There were no reports of any injuries to occupants or responders. Origin and cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Johnson City Fire Marshal’s Office.
a humble city employee
Stanley Elie Daniels, Captain
Johnson City Fire Department
sedaniels@johnsoncitytn.org
423-483-5828 or 423-975-2840
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