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By Editor Becky Watts
MILNER - An emergency call went out just before 5 p.m. on March 7, 2017 for a fire at 186 Bowen Road. The emergency call stated that there was one person inside of the house.
Since this address is just inside of the Pike County line, Pike County asked for and received mutual aid from Lamar County Fire Department. EMS from both Grady/South Georgia and Community Ambulance responded as well.
The Water Shuttle Relay System that helped Pike County lower its ISO rating for insurance was used on this fire. Essentially, water was dumped into these two tanks from tanker trucks that brought in the water (see picture in red above) and that water was relayed to the fire truck and hoses held by the fire fighters as they sprayed down the fire. This system doubles our water capacity because it allows trucks to offload their water and bring more in without waiting in a line to be drained at a fire.
The house was engulfed in flames by the time that I arrived on the scene, and one person was transported to Grady by ambulance. The house looked to be a total loss. Firefighters were on the scene until after 9 p.m. last night.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
UPDATE March 8, 2017:
I spoke with the Sheriff's Office today and was advised that Greg Bell is the person who was transported to Grady by Grady/South Georgia Ambulance.
The Pike County Fire Department was called back to the scene this morning to check the cause of smoke in a possible fire rekindle, but it was very small and quickly extinguished.
[Note from the Editor: Pike and Lamar Firefighters and emergency responders worked together very professionally to fight a fire this evening on Bowen Road. My hat is off to everyone who drops what they are doing to respond to emergencies like this. Thanks to Public Information Officer and First Responder Anita Neath from the Pike County Fire Department for working well with local media and to Major David Neal of the Pike County Sheriff's Office for working with me today as well.]
Photos courtesy of Sarah Neath of Looking Glass Photography. https://lookingglassphoto.shootproof.com
