Fire damage confined to basement
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - No injuries to residents, firefighters or other emergency personnel were reported to have occurred during a fire at a home on West Veterans Highway on Feb. 20.

Firefighters from the Cassville Volunteer Fire Company Station 56 and the Jackson Mills Fire Company Station 54 responded to a call for assistance at 6:15 p.m. at a home in the Cassville section of Jackson where there appeared to be a fire raging in the basement.

Heavy smoke coming from the basement was observed by Cassville Chief John Alchevsky upon his arrival at the scene.

"Chief Alchevsky immediately called Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst Station 63 for their Rapid Intervention Support Team and for the Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad," Cassville Assistant Chief Matthew Genovese said.

When firefighters entered the basement of the home, a heavy fire condition was found but it was extinguished quickly by engine crews from Station 56, led by Lt. Andrew Kubinski and supported by firefighters from Station 54, who stopped the fire from reaching the main floor of the home.

The remainder of the home was inspected with thermal imaging equipment and heat-detecting equipment and no other fire was found.

The fire was declared to be under control at 6:43 p.m.

"All occupants escaped from the home with no reported injuries,"Alchevsky said. "I wish to commend the initial attack team and the on-scene division commanders on an outstanding job.

"Due to a quick and decisive knockdown of the fire, the damage was confined to the basement. This situation could have really gotten a lot worse given the age of the home and the stage of the fire upon the entry of firefighters," the chief said.

The cause of the home fire is under investigation by the Bureau of Fire Prevention, District No. 2.