It was a defensive battle from the start for firefighters as they worked to contain a blaze on Nebrado Street in Alliance early Sunday morning; the fire destroyed two houses before being quelled.
Alliance Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Nick Hinman said that they responded to the report as quickly as possible after receiving it at 4:03 a.m. Sunday.
“We responded with 10 firefighters from our own department,” said Hinman. “We had an engine, a ladder, heavy rescue, EMS and an ambulance. We requested mutual aid from Hemingford, and they responded with an engine and a command vehicle with manpower. They had a total of five, so we had a total of 15 people on scene. Both structures are a total loss at this time. One house caught fire and spread to another house. So we had, basically, two structures on fire at the same time.”
He noted that the largest challenge when fighting this fire was the fact the first house was fully engulfed in flames by the time they were dispatched.
“It was a difficult situation to get under control quickly,” Hinman said.
Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control within approximately an hour and a half, Hinman noted. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. He said that one patient was transported to the hospital to be treated.
Hinman said that routine property maintenance can make a big difference in their ability to respond efficiently, noting that it can affect access. He also urged people to test their smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly.
The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Hinman explained, is always looking for more people to join the department to help keep the community safe.
“We’re always looking for volunteers to come help us out,” said Hinman. “If anybody has an interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter, you can come to the station and talk to somebody here to see what it takes. You don’t have to have any experience. We’ll train you.”
