Shorty after lunch time Station 50 was special requested to Surry County for assistance with a commercial structure fire. Truck 50 responded with four along with Chief 501 (Stallings) and Chief 503 (Savage). Turning out of the station responding units could see the plume of smoke from almost 20 miles away. Truck 50 arrived on scene at 11455 Rolfe Highway to find a large commercial facility with heavy smoke and fire showing from a large office building and smoke coming from the exposure, a large warehouse. Truck 50 set up on the A-B corner of the structure. and immediately began flowing water. Engines 50 and 52 were requested to assist. Engine 50 took over pumping to Truck 50 while Engine 52 provided water supply to Quint 10 on the C side of the structure. Crews on the ground and in the bucket work for several hours cutting holes in the side of the building to try and access the fire. Due to harsh conditions and strong winds and size of the structure, Truck 50 had to be repositioned 4 times to protect crew from changing conditions and access different parts of the structure. Initial crews worked for 9 hours in temperatures in the teens before relief crews arrived. Relief crews worked for an additional 5 hours to 2 a.m. before being released by command. In all units from Smithfield worked for 14 hours at a very difficult fire that many members will never forget.
