Park dispatch received a call from a park resident just before midnight on Monday, December 17th, reporting that her historic home in the Pine Creek area was on fire. She said that everyone was out of the house and that nobody had been injured. The park’s structural fire brigade was immediately called out and arrived on scene within four minutes with a Type 1 engine and a rescue truck. The Springdale Fire Department was also called and responded within minutes. Ray O’Neil, district ranger, structural fire captain, and occupant of the residence, attempted to use a hose from a nearby hydrant to extinguish the blaze from the outside before firefighters arrived, but the attic was fully involved and his efforts were unsuccessful. Firefighters had water flowing to the house in less than five minutes. They entered the house and used a newly-acquired piercing nozzle to penetrate the attic through a second story ceiling, significantly cooling the fire. Other firefighters were then able to gain access to the roof, ventilate the building, and extinguish the fire from above. The roof, attic, and second floor ceiling sustained significant fire damage, and the interior of the historic stone house suffered smoke and extensive water damage. Washington County deputies and a state fire marshal also responded and assisted firefighters. Structural fire captain Tom Haraden was the IC. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but has been ruled an accident.
