Four area fire crews responded to a call of a structure fire off of Bee Tree Road in Glenville shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Monday. There are no injuries and it’s believed the residence is vacant and no one was inside at the time of the fire, said Cashiers Glenville Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Todd Dillard.
A downed power line to the rear of the house made the ground unsafe to walk on and had crews waiting for Duke Energy to arrive on site and turn off the electricity.
Fire crews kept hoses on the burning house to keep the fire contained until Duke Energy turned off the power so crews could move in and put out the blaze. Todd Dillard uses hand gestures to guide the hose operator at the truck.
During that waiting period fire crews had hoses trained on the burning structure to prevent it from spreading. The problem was, there was no hydrant located near the house so crews had to use tanker trucks to haul up water from Bee Tree Road to keep the fire contained.
“We got what looks like an abandoned home, so were making sure the fire doesn’t spread while we wait for Duke [Energy],” said Dillard. “With the power line down behind the house, even with our special boots, we’re going to wait. No one’s been injured by electricity and we’re not going to risk it.”
Once the power was turned off, fire crews were able to move in.
After Duke Energy shut off the power, fire crews moved in and put out the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation and Dillard said the house is a total loss. Crews from Highlands, Cullowhee, and Lake Toxaway also responded to the call.
Fire crews had to tear a hole through the wall to get access to the fire with the hose.
Robert Crowe lives next to the burned house and is the one who called the fire department.
“I came in and smelled something burning,” said Crowe. “I went to look and the entire end was on fire, that’s where the kitchen is. It’s lucky no one’s been in there for years.”
Once the hose could get through the wall, crews got down to business.
A hose mounted on the front of a truck keeps a steady stream of water on the fire while crews wait for Duke Energy to arrive and shut off the power.
Crews from Cashiers/Glenville, Highlands, Cullowhee, and Lake Toxaway responded to a structure fire call on Monday afternoon.
Article and Photos by Brian O’Shea
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