By Linda Cicoira
Armed with fire extinguishers, a watering can, and pots and pans of water, Tasley firefighters battled a blaze at the circa 18th-century house, Ravenswood, Sunday until an off-road truck was able to get through a muddy two-mile private driveway to bring equipment and water to the scene.
“It was a first for me,” Deputy Fire Chief Don Amadeo of Tasley Volunteer Fire Company said Tuesday. “Never had to pile a crew on a tractor to get to a house fire in my 34 years in the fire service. The owner of the property, Bill Valentine, met us on his tractor as we were walking in and gave us a ride. We couldn’t get the engine to the house due to the recent wet weather making the driveway impassable to anything but four-wheel-drive vehicles.”
“It was a good save,” Amadeo added. “We were lucky the occupants of the house had also used extinguishers … that undoubtedly bought us some time … minimal fire damage to one bed-room, attic, exterior wall, and porch. Yes, they are still living there.”
Firefighters from Wachapreague soon arrived in a brush truck that carries equipment and water and were able to get through the muddy path near Daug-erty. The call came in at 8:33 a.m. In addition to Tasley and Wachapreague, units from Parksley, Onan-cock, and Melfa responded. There were no injuries. Onan-cock and Melfa res-cue volunteers and ambulances were al-so there.
Amadeo said the fire started in an outside light fixture. About 100 gallons of water were need-ed to fully extinguish the blaze. There was a garden hose attached to a spigot on the other side of the house but the hose wouldn’t reach the fire.
“Great work was done by all companies involved in this difficult situation and damage was held to a minimum,” according to Tasley Fire Company’s Facebook page. “Units cleared in about two hours.”
Fire Chief Jeff Beall was in charge. He was not available for comment.
