August 2019 Responses
During the Month of August Savannah Fire Rescue responded to 689 service calls, including 70 fires, 228 emergency medical service and other incident calls, 85 hazardous condition calls, 49 public service calls, 52 smoke scare calls, 6 citizen issue calls and 199 false alarms. Of the 80 fires, 19 were structure fires. Below is a detailed summary of the structure fires and other notable calls for service:
August 1, 2019
11:34 a.m.
Gasoline Spill, 29 Saint Johns Ave.
Firefighters responded to an incident involving a street sweeper that fell into a sink hole. Firefighters discovered that the street sweeper leaked over 75 gallons of fuel. They set up a fuel-leak catch-all and plugged the leak. Firefighters also checked for possible runoff contamination. It was determined that no further action was required. Firefighters stood by until the street sweeper was removed by a towing company.
August 1, 2019
5:06 p.m.
Intercat Savannah Hazardous Material Spill, 115 Eli Whitney Blvd.
Firefighters responded to a hazardous material leak in a large industrial storage building and discovered visible vapors from ethylene diamine. The chemical was stored in a 200 gallon container, which broke at the valve. The chemical was contained to a catch basin and self-contained drainage system inside the building.
August 2, 2019
10:07 a.m.
Office Building Smoke Smell, 6409 Abercorn St.
Firefighters were called to investigate a smoke smell in a commercial office building. Firefighters discovered a small fire inside a bathroom, which was out upon their arrival. They checked for extension, made sure the fire was completely out and cleared the smoke from the building.
August 3, 2019
1:09 p.m.
Brentwood Apartments Kitchen Fire, 7207 Skidaway Rd, Unit D4
Firefighters were dispatched to a cooking fire. The blaze, which was out upon their arrival, spread from the stove to the cabinets above. Firefighters removed the burned pot, unplugged the stove, cut power to the kitchen, checked for hot spots and ventilated the structure. The resident was displaced, but the apartment manager provided alternate housing.
August 3, 2019
6:50 p.m.
Construction Debris Fire, 4510 Ogeechee Rd.
Firefighters dispatched to an open area fire discovered a pile of construction debris on fire and an individual attempting to extinguish it with a garden hose. The individual said he was burning to clear the lot. Firefighters explained the City Ordinance banning such activity and extinguished the fire.
August 3, 2019
7:34 p.m.
Homeless Camp Fire, Truman Parkway at President Street
Units were dispatched to an open area fire at the homeless camp. The blaze was quickly extinguished. No one was injured.
August 3, 2019
7:37 p.m.
Gas Grill Fire, 174 Lakepointe Dr.
Savannah Fire was dispatched to a reported structure fire. They arrived to find that the propane tank on a gas grill caught fire and the resident extinguished it with a garden hose. Firefighters made sure the fire was completely out, checked for extension and used water to cool the tank to a safe temperature. They advised the residents to exchange the tank before using the grill.
August 4, 2019
7:03 a.m.
Carbon Monoxide Alarm; Frazier Homes, 502 W. Anderson
Firefighters were dispatched on a carbon monoxide alarm call. They traced the carbon monoxide to a locked maintenance closet. Gas to the apartment was shut off and maintenance staff was informed of the need to repair the leak before turning the gas back on.
August 4, 2019
9:37 a.m.
Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 4820 Temple St.
Savannah Fire was dispatched to carbon monoxide alarm call. Firefighters discovered elevated carbon monoxide readings because a gas stove was not burning properly. They turned off the gas leading to the stove, ventilated the structure and monitored the air until meter readings were normal. The resident was advised to have the stove serviced.
August 4, 2019
3:34 p.m.
Swift Water Rescue, Viaduct at East Henry and East Broad streets.
Truck 5 was driving through their district and discovered a vehicle stuck in flood water beneath the viaduct at East Henry and East Broad streets. Firefighters used a roof ladder to gain access to the person trapped inside. The motorist was extricated from the vehicle.
August 5, 2019
1:23 a.m.
Structure Fire, 1120 E. 32nd St.
Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire. They discovered a dryer on fire in the utility room at the rear of a home. They extinguished the blaze, removed the dryer, and cut power to the utility room. The homeowner was treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene.
August 5, 2019
8:18 p.m.
Structure Fire, 218 Jenks St.
Units were dispatched to a fire. One person was still inside a detached laundry room when firefighters arrived. The man had attempted to extinguish the blaze but was overcome by smoke. Firefighters pulled the unconscious man from the burning laundry room. They resuscitated him and extinguished the fire. The male victim was conscious and alert when EMS arrived to transport him to a local hospital. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the laundry room. No one was displaced.
August 7, 2019
8:24 p.m.
Bicyclist Struck by Car, Eisenhower and Waters
Firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle collision. They discovered a bicyclist had been struck by a car. Firefighters performed a primary medical assessment and observed trauma and abrasions to the victim’s left leg and side. They immobilized the victim until EMS arrived.
August 8, 2019
7:14 p.m.
Kitchen Fire, 7220 Seawright Dr.
Firefighters responded to a call about an apartment cooking fire that had been extinguished by the resident. The fire damaged the stove, range hood and cabinets. Firefighters made sure the fire was completely extinguished and cut power to the stove and countertop outlets.
August 10, 2019
8:43 p.m.
Structure Fire, 221 E. Lathrop Ave.
Firefighters were dispatched to a bedroom fire. Residents left incense burning in a bedroom. Smoldering embers fell onto a mattress and started a fire. Fast acting firefighters prevented the blaze from extending beyond the bedroom. No one was injured, but the residents were displaced. The Red Cross was called to the scene to assist them.
August 12, 2019
7:06 a.m.
Vehicle Extrication, Abercorn Street and Mercy Boulevard
Firefighters responded to a vehicle extrication call. The drivers of both vehicles were injured. One was entrapped. Firefighters removed the driver’s side door and helped package both patients for EMS transport. Firefighters then applied oil dry to the areas where the wrecked vehicles leaked fluids.
August 12, 2019
7:46 a.m.
Elevator Rescue; Memorial Hospital, 4700 Waters Ave.
Units responded to an elevator rescue call at Memorial Hospital. Individuals were stuck in the lobby elevator. Firefighters rescued everyone trapped inside.
August 12, 2019
2:51 p.m.
Capacity complaint; Boomy’s Bar, 409 W. Congress St.
A deputy Fire Marshal contacted the bar doorman for an occupancy count. The doorman said he did not know and did not have a method for tracking occupancy. The owner was issued a warning citation.
August 12, 2019
7:07 p.m.
Structure Fire, 2020 Star Ave.
Savannah Fire Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire in the Tremont Park neighborhood. Firefighters discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from a rear bedroom and quickly extinguished the fire. The home sustained water and smoke damage. Power to the structure had to be cut. No one was injured, but a mother and her three young sons were displaced.
August 12, 2019
10:30 p.m.
Structure Fire, 1419 Augusta Ave.
Savannah Fire responded to a reported structure fire and found a pile of smoldering clothes in a bedroom. The fire ran up the wall and scorched the sheet rock, but had been extinguished by the residents. Firefighters made sure the blaze was completely out, ventilated the structure and installed a smoke alarm.
August 13, 2019
11:48 a.m.
Flue Fire; Blends Coffee Shop, 102 E. Broughton St.
Savannah Fire Rescue was dispatched to a fire at a downtown coffee shop. The shop manager had put the fire out with a dry chemical extinguisher when firefighters arrived. They discovered smoke coming from the brewing machine flue. Firefighters dismantled the flue, cut power to the coffee machine and went up to the roof to ensure that the blaze was completely out before ventilating the structure.
August 13, 2019
12:01 p.m.
Forced Entry, 221 E. Taylor
Savannah Fire was called to help EMS gain entry to an injured person who had fallen inside a locked home and was unable to get up.
August 14, 2019
7:48 a.m.
Forced Entry; Phillip Winters Apartments, 1111 Mohawk St.
Firefighters responded to Phillip Winters apartments for a public service assistance. EMS needed to access a locked apartment. The resident inside had fallen, broken her leg and could not get up to unlock the door. Firefighters forced the door open and helped EMS get the victim up.
August 14, 2019
10:12 a.m.
Gas Leak, 220 Highway 80
Firefighters responded to the report of a gas leak outside. Contractors working in area had damaged a large gas line. Firefighters monitored the air in nearby Hardees and TitleBucks stores. The occupants of Hardees were sheltered in a safe place and the occupants of TitleBucks sheltered in place. The roadway was closed. Firefighters stood by throughout the night until the gas company mitigated the issue.
August 14, 2019
10:24 a.m.
Gas Leak, 1112 Jefferson St.
Firefighters responded to an outdoor gas leak at W. Park and Jefferson. A road construction crew damaged a gas line. Firefighters monitored the air in and around buildings in the area. Residents in the 300 block of W. Park were sheltered in a safe place. The roadway was blocked off and firefighters stood by until the gas company mitigated the issue.
August 14, 2019
10:34 a.m.
Vehicle Extrication, Abercorn and Hero’s Way
Savannah Fire units responded to a vehicle accident with entrapment. Firefighters discovered a person entrapped in an overturned vehicle. They stabilized the vehicle and removed the passenger side B pillar to gain access to the victim.
August 14, 2019
3:07 p.m.
Structure Fire, 135 Brandywine
Savannah Fire units responded to the report of a structure fire during a thunderstorm. They discovered flames at the rear of the structure, possibly from a lighting strike. Firefighters extinguished the fire on the exterior walls and eaves, vented the roof and checked the attic for extension.
August 14, 2019
3:21 p.m.
Structure Fire, 19 Bundy Park
Savannah Fire responded to the report of a fire at a residential townhouse during a thunderstorm. Firefighters discovered smoke and a small fire in the attic apparently caused by a lightning strike. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and checked for extension next door. No one was injured, but the residents were displaced.
August 14, 2019
3:50 p.m.
Structure Fire, 1001 Tibet Ave.
Savannah Fire responded to a structure fire during a thunderstorm. Lightning struck a utility pole, traveled to the building through the power lines and caused a fire in a breaker box. The fire was out on arrival. There was no extension to the structure. Firefighters checked for hot spots and cut power to the building.
August 14, 2019
3:54 p.m.
Water evacuation, Anderson and Paulsen streets
During a thunderstorm, firefighters were dispatched to a motorist stuck in a flooded street. Firefighters discovered a vehicle in a flooded roadway with the driver still inside. They pushed the vehicle out of the flooded area to a safe place.
August 14, 2019
5:47 p.m.
Gas Leak; Checkers Restaurant, 2510 Skidaway Rd.
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to the report of an outdoor gas leak at a fast food restaurant. Firefighters discovered that a customer in the drive-thru struck the gas meter. Firefighters sheltered the restaurant customers in a safe place, established a save zone and monitored the air while gas company crews mitigated the issue.
August 16, 2019
5:47 p.m.
Fire; Nexeo Solutions Chemical Plant, 400 Telfair Rd.
Savannah Fire Rescue was dispatched to a fire at the loading dock of an industrial chemical facility. Crews worked to extinguish the fire and contain the runoff. The burning chemicals were identified by UN numbers 1993, 1219, 1268 and 1090. Managers from Colonial Oil said they would hire a contractor to mitigate the runoff.
August 17, 2019
12:50 a.m.
Biohazard clean-up; Greyhound Bus Station, 610 W. Oglethorpe Ave.
Firefighters were dispatched to the bus station, where a man bled over a large area inside and outside of the bus station. Management was notified that they would have to hire a contractor to clean up the interior. But firefighters used bleach, hydrogen peroxide and water to clean up the affected exterior areas. Firefighters stood by until the area was safe and the man was transported to a local hospital.
August 18, 2019
2:46 p.m.
Structure Fire, 2125 Texas Ave.
Savannah Fire responded to a structure fire call. Firefighters discovered a fire in the kitchen and quickly extinguished it. No one was injured, but power had to be cut and two adults were displaced.
August 19, 2019
2:46 p.m.
Animal Rescue, 10 W. 32nd St.
A motorist pulled up to Station 5 with a cat stuck under his vehicle. Firefighters located a cat inside the chassis of the vehicle. Firefighters called for animal control, but a deputy fire marshal reached under and removed the cat. The cat bit, scratched and ran off.
August 20, 2019
1:12 a.m.
Structure Fire, 1004 W. 41st St.
When units arrived on scene they found a small smoldering fire on the side porch of a residence. They used a water can to extinguish the fire and overhauled the area to check for extension. All charring was scrapped away and the area was soaked down with water from 2 water cans.
August 20, 2019
3:13 p.m.
Fire; SCAD Fahm Hall, 1 N. Fahm St.
Savannah Fire was dispatched to a fire alarm in a college lab. Firefighters discovered that the contents of a laser cutting machine caught fire. Students had extinguished the blaze with an extinguisher and fire blanket. Firefighters checked for extension and ventilated the building.
August 23, 2019
5:28 a.m.
Structure Fire; Baymont Inn, 2 Lee Blvd.
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to a hotel fire alarm. Firefighters discovered a large amount of water coming from room 205. They forced entry and found that a burning mattress had activated the sprinkler system. The fire had burned itself out. Firefighters turned off the sprinklers and checked for hot spots. Rooms 205, 207, 105 and 107 suffered water damage. A deputy fire marshal and fire investigator were called to investigate.
August 23, 2019
6:22 p.m.
Accident; Marathon Gas, 8001 Waters Ave.
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to the report of a motor vehicle that crashed through the wall of a gas station. Firefighters checked the driver for injuries and the building for signs of collapse. The cinderblock walls of a storage room were cracked and the brick facade was separated from the block, but there was no damage to the main gas station building. Police on scene contacted code enforcement to check the storage room.
August 24, 2019
2:48 a.m.
Fire; 1115 E. 55th St.
Firefighters were called to the scene of a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the occupant. Firefighters discovered that the occupant had extinguished a fire in her kitchen door jamb. Upon further investigation they found another fire had been lit on the exterior back porch wall. Firefighters ventilated the home and notified the fire investigator. The investigators discovered that a vehicle at the rear of the home had also been burned.
August 24, 2019
2:50 p.m.
Assisted Chatham Fire; Liberty Oaks Apartments, 5110 Garrard Ave.
Savannah Fire Rescue Firefighters were dispatched to provide mutual aid to Chatham Fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a fully engulfed, three story apartment building with multiple units from Chatham Fire actively fighting the blaze. Savannah Firefighters assisted with fire suppression, conducted aerial operations and also supplied hand lines and water from a hydrant located outside the complex. Once the heavy fire was knocked down, Savannah Firefighters checked first and second floor apartments. They forced entry into 16 apartments and rescued a dog and some caged birds.
August 26, 2019
5:55 p.m.
Fire; 46 Quail Forest Dr.
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at a residence. Firefighters discovered a fire in the kitchen and quickly extinguished it. Power to the home was cut and the resident was displaced.
August 26, 2019
7:28 p.m.
Vehicle Extrication; Mohawk Street and Dutchtown Road
Firefighters responded to a vehicle accident with entrapment. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a vehicle that struck a tree head-on, approximately 10 feet above the ground. The unconscious driver was pinned in the driver’s seat with severe head and leg injuries. One unit stabilized the driver inside the car while another removed the driver side door. Once the door was opened a c-collar was placed on the driver so he could be packaged and removed from the car.
August 27, 2019
4:27 p.m.
Fire, 2221 E. 58th St.
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at a residence. Firefighters discovered a fire in the kitchen that began on the stove and extended to the cabinets. They quickly extinguished the fire. No one was injured, but power was cut and four adults were displaced.
August 29, 2019
1:34 p.m.
Fire, 12 W. 57th St.
Firefighters were dispatched to a house fire. Upon arrival they discovered a blaze in the bedroom areas. Firefighters contained the fire to the bedrooms, but two people were displaced. A fire investigator was called to determine the cause.
August 30, 2019
8:19 p.m.
Storage Shed Fire; Colonial Oil, 312 Carolan St.
Firefighters were dispatched to a blaze in a flammable storage cabinet inside a metal shed at Colonial Oil. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and contacted the fire investigator. No one was injured.
August 31, 2019
12:45 a.m.
Vehicle Extrication, E. 37 and Abercorn streets
Savannah Fire Rescue responded to a reported vehicle accident with entrapment. The passenger door was removed to access the passenger trapped inside.
August 31, 2019
5 a.m.
Grill Fire; Fountains Apartments, 1699 Chatham Parkway
Firefighters were dispatched to an open area fire at an apartment complex. They discovered two grills and the surrounding counters and cabinets on fire in an outdoor grill area. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. No one was injured.