A structure fire at 7:06 a.m. Sunday destroyed a home at 4550 Mayes Drive in Norman. Newcastle firefighters, who were located on State Highway 9 about 2/10ths of a mile as the crow flies from the scene, responded to the call.
The structure was reported at the time to be fully involved with heavy smoke, according to dispatch audio. Firefighters on the scene said the homeowner told them a mattress had caught on fire and he attempted to put it out. By the time Newcastle Station 2 arrived on the scene, the home was totally involved, said Newcastle Fire Chief Todd Yates. The chief said Newcastle Station 2 responded within two minutes from receiving the call.
“Newcastle Station 2 and Station 1 were both paged out at the same time,” Yates said. “Station 2 sent two apparatuses over with four firefighters, and then Station 1 responded with one engine and three firefighters.
“Once the guys got there they called for mutual aid from Goldsby and Blanchard. They had four different apparatuses with eight different personnel respond.”
Yates said Newcastle then put out an all-page and six more firefighters responded with three more apparatuses. McClain County EMS responded in case their services were needed by firefighters, and to offer other help such as Gatorade and water.
The 8,000-square-foot, $1.675 million home, was considered a complete loss. Crews were on the scene for about seven hours, and then followed up on a hot spot Monday.
Yates said structure fires are fortunately few and far between in Newcastle, but when there is one the department is appreciative of the mutual aid they receive from the other area fire departments.
“It is nice to have the extra resources,” Yates said. “The more people you can get on the scene like that, it helps out.”
