2 critical after Cumberland County house fire; 40 extra firefighters needed as many overcome by heat at ‘mass casualty incident’

LINDEN, N.C. (WNCN) — A woman and man were in critical condition after they were pulled from a Cumberland County house fire late Saturday morning that spawned a “mass casualty incident” designation because so many firefighters suffered heat ailments, fire officials said.

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The call for the house fire was around 11:30 a.m. in the 8400 block of Colliers Chapel Church Road, about two miles south of Linden near the Cape Fear River, according to the Westarea Volunteer Fire Department, the primary agency.

When crews arrived, smoke was coming from a double-wide mobile home and flames were spotted climbing an exterior wall, Westarea Volunteer Fire Department Chief Scott Bass told CBS 17.

Firefighters from the first two engines at the scene quickly checked the home and found a man in the front bedroom and a woman in the center of the home, Bass said.

Firefighters quickly removed the pair from the home, and they were soon put aboard separate medical helicopters, he said.

Both were critical but stable and were flown to the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill for treatment, according to Bass.

Meanwhile, fire crews struggled against the intense high temperatures on a heat advisory day — with heat index temps forecast to hit 109 degrees.

The home was surrounded by thick trees and limbs, which made it hard to access, Bass said. The home also had several additions over the years and a double roof, which also complicated the firefighting.

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Soon, several firefighters needed help for heat illnesses, Bass said. Forty extra firefighters were called in from Fayetteville, Harnett County and Moore County to help those who needed to rotate out of the heat.

Bass said 10 extra EMS personnel were also called into supplement those on the scene who suffered heat ailments.

By 3:30 p.m., three firefighters and three EMS personnel were taken to be treated for heat illnesses, Bass said.

During the rapid heat illnesses and need for extra crews, county officials designated the fire call a “mass casualty incident,” according to Bass.

Bass said he was proud the Westarea firefighters, which included about 15 volunteers on Saturday.

“I can’t ask for any better — we got both victims out and checked by EMS and then on the copters,” Bass said.

Firefighters were at the scene checking hot spots until 3:30 p.m.

Bass said there were at least 60 firefighters at the scene during the height of the call.

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