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STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK Puddles of black water still sat on First Avenue Sunday afternoon, a reminder of the firefight the day before. A handful of women moved what furniture and other items were salvageable from the home, while passersby surveyed the damage from behind a yellow “Do Not Cross” tape. Blaine County Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the house fire at the corner of Galena Street and First Avenue in Hailey at about 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
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Charred wood stood on the patio Sunday afternoon.
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Though no official cause has been given yet, one of the women said it was believed to have involved a barbeque. Firefighters arrived to find flames on the west side of the house. They initiated an aggressive fire attack while searching the structure for inhabitants and working to prevent the fire from spread. By that time, the fire had extended into the attic space, necessitating additional personnel from the City of Sun Valley Fire Department and North Blaine County Fire District be brought in. Crews knocked down the fire at about 7:27 p.m., and firefighters remained on scene, extinguishing remaining hot spots.
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The fire got into the attic.
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One civilian and two firefighters sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. About 40 firefighters responded to the incident, along with five fire engines, one ladder truck and multiple support units, said Lenny Joseph, media relations director for the fire department. A second house fire was reported at 2:34 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, in Hailey’s Woodside neighborhood. Blaine County Fire & Rescue firefighters arrived to visible flames and were able to bring it under control an hour later at 3:32 p.m. Crews remained on the scene to extinguish hot spots.
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Salvageable items sat on the lawn on Sunday.
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They were assisted by the City of Sun Valley Fire Department, the North Blaine County Fire District and the City of Hailey Police Department, which established scene safety. No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported in this case, and the cause is under investigation. This was the third major fire in the area within the week. A 34-acre grass fire near Picabo, which ignited on Wednesday, July 29, was determined to be caused by sparks from an irrigation pump that malfunctioned.
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Firefighters from Blaine County Fire & Rescue, the Sun Valley Fire Department and North Blaine County Fire Department responded. COURTESY: Blaine County Fire & Rescue
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