On Monday, May 2nd, 2016 at 0118 hours, the La Plata Volunteers were alerted to a fire alarm in an apartment building. E-12 responded on the call and was advised as they were leaving the station that there were multiple calls stating the roof was on fire due to a lightning strike. Upon E-12’s arrival they noted smoke and fire coming from the roof of the building. Crews extended an attack line into the building and located the fire in the attic space of a 4th floor apartment. E-11, E-14, and FTA-1 responded on the call from La Plata as well.
Despite being faced with water supply issues and the fire being located in tight/hard to access void spaces, the La Plata Volunteers, with the assistance of multiple surrounding departments, were able to safely evacuate all residents and extinguish the fire before it could spread.
With the exception of the fire apartment and two other apartments that received water damage the remaining occupants returned to their apartments that night after the building was deemed safe.
