One very cold night in January, while I was off duty, the Fire Department was called out to a house fire on Highway WW. I was still awake working on the computer, grabbed my coat and camera, and headed out the door with Missy right behind me. Just as I got to the North Service Road, Pumper 854 went by headed west. I fell in behind them and continued to the scene, which turned out to be the residence of good friends, Kent and Debbie Koch. I parked at the foot of their driveway to leave room for all the other trucks I knew would be responding, including Bourbon`s crews. As it turned out, Bourbon Fire Department sent several men and three trucks.

On arrival of the Sullivan pumper,  Captain Damon Sumpter and his crew pulled a pre-connect hoseline and stretched it to the back  of the garage, attached to the house, and discovered an enclosed, exterior flue pipe to a wood stove,  that was located inside the garage, the wood framing around the flue pipe was on fire near the top of it,  and had extended to the garage roof as well. While his crew were grabbing tools, Damon prepared to attack the fire alone….

and as soon as the small stream of water was applied to the chimney flue, the amount of fire and heat became more apparent….

…while waiting for more manpower and tools, Damon continued to simply cool down the base of the chimney….

…and this next photo shows the pipe exposed and the wood framing burned away from around it….luckily this and only minor damage occurred to the roof of the garage….luckily Kent and Debbie were home and awake to discover it….