CH411, E419, R415, G412 were dispatched at 6:30 am on Friday morning to Posey Drive in Fredericktown on the report of a commercial structure fire. Due to the nature of the call, mutual-aid was also requested from Mount Vernon Fire Department, College Township Fire, and Jefferson Township Fire (Richland Co). Fredericktown EMS also responded with a medic unit.
When C411 arrived on the scene, he found a two-story wood frame construction, a multi-unit apartment complex with smoke in an apartment on the lower level. Fire was located in a wall near the dryer. Evacuation of the apartments within the affected building were evacuated.
E419 responded with two firefighters and upon arriving the crew worked to expose the wall that was burning and extinguish with a pressurized water extinguisher. Incoming crews worked on the exterior of the structure as well to overhaul and check the wall for fire extension into the rest of the structure.
The occupant of the apartment had started the dryer about five minutes before the smoke detector went off, alerting him to the fire.
Firefighters contained the fire and damage to a 2-foot by 6-foot area near the clothes dryer. AEP was contacted and shut off the power to the building. The fire is still under investigation and was unspecified electrical in nature.
The FCFD had 9 firefighters and one cadet respond to the call. All units were back in quarters by 7:55 am.