A fire last night destroyed one mobile home, damaged another and left the
Buchanan fire chief seriously injured. The fire was reported about 1910 on Albemarle Street. While operating, Buchanan Volunteer Fire
Department Chief Billy Joe Carter was shocked by a downed power line. He remains
hospitalized today. A second mobile home, from which two dogs were
rescued, received some smoke and water damage.
Carter said today he was
suffering some residual paralysis on his right side and was having trouble
walking. He said he anticipated spending another night at Carilion Roanoke
Memorial Hospital. He said he has some feeling on his right side and is
hopeful for a full recovery. Carter said an insulated power line broke loose
at the scene, fell across his back, interacted with water and arced to his left
calf. The electrical shock knocked him down. But he
continued to fight the fire, as did volunteers from departments in Buchanan,
Fincastle and Troutville. Chief Carter said unfavorable weather conditions and
the proximity of several other mobile homes and power lines made the fire a
challenge to fight. “That’s probably one of the roughest fires I’ve been
involved in,” he said.
An occupant of the trailer fled without shoes and
escaped injury after discovering fire and smoke in a portion of the home. Carter
identified him as Todd Hickman, a longtime member of the Buchanan VFD. He said
he believes Hickman was the home’s lone occupant at the time of the fire and has
found refuge with a relative.
