Fires were battled in Greenfield and Hillsboro
Thursday was a very busy night for area fire fighters. A fatal fire is under investigation in the Greenfield area and a separate house fire was reported in Hillsboro.
Firefighters were on the scene in minutes at a mobile home fire in Greenfield just after 9pm, Thursday night. The Greenfield police and neighbors were already there, trying desperately to reach the man inside the trailer. Within minutes the fire grew so large that the heat pushed the unprotected policeman and bystanders back, with the gentleman that resided at the Carford Pike residence still inside.
As the firefighters quickly extinguished the raging inferno, it was discovered that the 63-year-old man was near the back of the trailer, still seated in his wheelchair, away from the roaring flames but overcome by the heat and smoke. Chief Bradley George, of the Paint Creek EMS/Fire Department, reported at the scene that the resident had perished before he could be rescued.
721 Carford Pike fire photo Barefoot Pictures
Neighbors fought back tears and many stood in silence in the small trailer park as they watched. Jessica Whitt stood with her two young daughters.
"It's so sad," Whitt said. "That man gave the kids rides on his scooter. He talked to everybody. He was a loving person."
Whitt lived near the victim and said that everybody in the neighborhood will miss him. She said she saw the smoke when it first started and she and other neighbors tried to help, but the fire grew so fast there was nothing they could do.
With Squad 222 and Engine 202, both from Paint Creek Station #2, in Hillsboro providing support and mutual aid to the Hillsboro Fire Department, Chief George stated that Paint Creek Station #1 was still able to have a full crew ready on station and rolled Engine 201, arriving within minutes of the call for help.
The fire is under investigation by the state fire marshall's office and the cause of the fire remains unknown. The victim was taken to Montgomery county for an autopsy. His name has not been released.
A seperate home fire Thursday night was reported in Hillsboro at 125 Collins Avenue. Residents of the home managed to escape the 8pm fire.
