Big Canoe, Bent Tree, and all Pickens and Dawson County current or future residents. No one wants a home fire, but should one happen we sure want the below:

Monday, 16 January 2012

Big Canoe firefighters commended for their professionalism

Damage to the Peagler home was kept to a minimum thanks to the quick response of Big Canoe firefighters and a fire wall. (Photo by Big Canoe Public Safety)

By Laura Link
llink@bigcanoenews.com
An early evening house fire in Big Canoe on Tuesday, January 3, was quickly contained and remains under investigation.

It was the second fire of the New Year—the first being an oven fire—and a quick response time of four minutes, kept damage to a minimum. The fire occurred in the home of David and Maria Peagler at 15 Highland Court and was contained to the chimney chase.

Damage to the Peagler home was kept to a minimum thanks to the quick response of Big Canoe firefighters and a fire wall. (Photo by Big Canoe Public Safety)

Peagler said he saw the fire below the firebox in the fire place and got everyone out of the house. The eight-year-old home is being examined to determine if the prefab chimney and firebox may have been at fault. “It appears to have been defective but I am waiting for inspectors and an insurance adjuster to come Friday. The chimney was clean,” Peagler told Smoke Signals.

Chief Jordan said fires during the burn stage will double every five minutes so the response time is critical. He added a firewall also helped contain the spread of the fire.

Jordan, who met with Peagler Thursday afternoon, said investigators will be able to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire.

By the time Pickens fire engine 51 from Cove Road reached the scene all that was left to do was assist with overhaul and smoke removal from the interior.

The quick response by Big Canoe firefighters Todd Lanning and Chip Rice brought a memo of commendation from one of the Pickens firefighters on the scene. Christopher Moss, a city of Atlanta fire lieutenant assigned to the Atlanta station whose coverage area contains the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena, works part-time for Pickens County Fire-Rescue Dept. and also responded to the Big Canoe fire call.

Moss’s memo to Pickens chief Bob Howard, commended not only Lanning and Rice but the other firefighters present, as well as the Big Canoe gate personnel who furnished Pickens personnel with “turn by turn directions and a map upon our arrival.”

The veteran Atlanta fireman went on to say, “The prompt actions along with the knowledge, skills and abilities of these professional firefighters directly resulted in the salvage of a beautiful home that was held to minimal damage…. In my opinion these two professional firefighters [Lanning and Rice] and the others that assisted are a great asset to the Big Canoe Fire Department and Big Canoe residents.”

POSTED BY: Tom & Kelly Beechler AT 10:38 am | Permalink | E-mail this