HOLLAND (WHTC) — A man was rescued during a basement fire at a 1960s-era home on Holland’s East 22nd Street Sunday night. His teenaged son was able to escape the home before firefighters arrived. Both were taken to Holland Hospital for treatment.
Holland Fire Captain Chris Tinney said the cause of the fire is unknown, but is not considered suspicious. Fighting basement fires creates a special hazard, he said, because firefighters typically are descending into the fire.
Firefighers got into the house through a basement window and rescued the man from the back of the basement, Tinney said. The victims’ names were not released. No firefighters were hurt.
Ruben Anchondo, who lives across the street from the burned home, said he smelled smoke and heard shouts. He said fire trucks were quickly on the scene. He and his wife said they’ve only lived at their home for a year and haven’t met many neighbors. They did not know the victims.
Retiree Pete Gauthier lives a block east on 22nd Street and walked down to see what was going on after he smelled smoke and heard other neighbors shouting.
All three of Holland’s firehouses responded to the call for help, which came at 11:53 p.m. Sunday. Police and firefighters were on the scene by 11:56 p.m., In all, about 15 firefighters and nearly as many Holland police officers, who were quickly joined by Holland Department of Public Safety Victims Services volunteers; AMR ambulance personnel; Red Cross disaster-relief volunteers; and utility company workers.
The severity of the victims’ injuries is unclear; many witnesses at the scene said heavy black smoke was pouring from the home. The man was able to walk, with assistance from firefighters, Tinney said.
The fire worked up from the basement into the first-floor kitchen and an eastern entrace, Tinney said. An estimate of the value of the damage will be determined as part of the investigation, he said.
A dog was also rescued from the home, uninjured.
