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Fire chief says hydrant limits required tanker shuttles after large house fire; origin under investigation
Summary
The chief reported that a recent house fire, investigated by the state fire marshal, resulted in no injuries but required tanker shuttles because hydrants in the dead-end neighborhood supplied about 700 gallons per minute—insufficient to sustain master streams—according to the chief.
The Louisville fire chief briefed council on a large house fire and said the department engaged mutual aid and tanker shuttles because local hydrants provided limited flow.
The chief said the fire was substantial, entered the attic quickly due to balloon-frame construction, and that crews used interior attack as far as conditions allowed. "We were flowing four hand lines at 185 gallons a minute," the chief said, and the closest hydrant in the dead-end area supplied about 700 gallons per minute—insufficient for additional master-stream flows—so the department supplemented supply with five tankers on a shuttle route and a fill site across Main Street.
The chief said the state fire marshal has been brought in to investigate the fire’s origin and that the cause is currently undetermined. He also said no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported and that insurers have contacted the department for the official report.
Councilors asked whether water supply impeded the initial response; the chief replied that despite supply limitations the outcome would likely not have been different because the seat of the fire was not safely accessible when crews arrived. He thanked mutual-aid departments and praised responders for their communication and professionalism.
Next steps: the state fire marshal will continue the origin investigation, and staff will follow up on any infrastructure implications if the hydrant system is found inadequate.
