Aid agreements mean multiple agencies respond to area fires
A house fire on Buck Creek Road on Thursday, Jan. 23, was handled by multi-fire-fighting agencies through a mutual aid agreement between Highlands Fire and surrounding fire and rescue agencies. While the home was a total loss, the call demonstrated how valuable the two agencies consider their mutual aid agreement with each other.
According to Highlands Fire and Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Robbie Forrester aid from Cashiers, Cullasaja, Scaly and Satolah fire departments helped fight the fire or filled in at the HFR station on stand-by.
A total of 12 firefighters from Highlands battled the blaze. Others including, two from Cashiers, along with a tanker truck, two from Cullasaja, four from Scaly and an undetermined number from Satolah that remained at the HFR station on stand-by.
“The mutual aid program really works,” Forrester said.
The call of a fire of a single-family residence on Buck Creek Road came in at 1:40 p.m. Thursday afternoon and firefighters fought the blaze for about two hours, leaving the scene between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m.
“When we got there the structure was fully involved,” Forrester said.
Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department answered the Thursday afternoon alarm call and provided logistical and manpower support, said CGFD Chief Randy Dillard.
“We sent two firefighters and a couple trucks out there for water,” said CGFD Dillard on Friday. “We were able to tap a hydrant at Chestnut Hill Assisted Living and I ran a pumper truck out to them.”
Forrester said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.