A Saturday fire inside the Bent Tree subdivision left a weekend residence heavily damaged but still standing and a county firefighter injured in the battle to save the structure. Skilled response by firefighters saved the lower level of the split level log home at 118 Coffey Cove owned by Michael Crifasi.
Bent Tree Fire Chief Robie Arnold said residents at the house, up for the holiday weekend, noticed the chimney not drawing properly after a fire was built in the fireplace. Outside they saw the chimney leaking smoke from places other than the chimney flue and phoned 911. The 911 Center dispatched Bent Tree firefighters to the blaze at 2:30 p.m., Arnold said.
On arriving to the house, the fire crew found flames already spread into the attic. They pulled hose to the home’s interior and began fighting the overhead fire from below, Arnold said.
"We had the fire pushed back," he said, "when we had to pull everyone out. Had a firefighter injured."
A veneer beam in the living area burned through and collapsed on Pickens County Firefighter Tracy Weaver, Arnold said. The falling beam injured Weaver’s neck and hand, Arnold reported. A Pickens County ambulance transported Weaver to Grady Hospital in Atlanta for treatment. His recovery is expected to require three to four weeks, Arnold said.
Four fire engines worked at the fire scene, Arnold said, including a Bent Tree engine, one from the county fire station on Cove Road, a Big Canoe engine, and one from the county firehouse near the airport. Three rescue trucks also responded, as did volunteers from Big Canoe, the City of Jasper, and Bethany-Salem Volunteer Fire Department, Arnold said.
Firefighters battled the fire three hours to bring it under control, he said. Responding units secured from the fire at 7:30 p.m., Arnold said, leaving one to keep watch. "We had a unit stay with it all night," he said.
Firefighters saved the lower level of the house, preserving a stock of heirloom furniture, Arnold said. "We had a hydrant right across the street," he said, "and that was a key factor [in stopping the fire], the fact we had a good water supply."
For emergencies like this, the Bent Tree firehouse has a direct link to the county 911 center, he said. "They paged it out just like they do for any other fire station in the county," Arnold said. In the aftermath of this fire, Arnold stressed the necessity of chimney cleaning. "Make sure your chimney is clean before you start it up in the wintertime," he urged.
He expressed appreciation to all firefighters who responded to the fire, thanks to paid firefighters and volunteers alike.
"And we want to wish Tracy [Weaver] a speedy recovery," Arnold said.
