Monday morning just after 7:00 a.m. Cypress Pointe Fire/Rescue, Southern Pines Fire/Rescue and Moore County EMS were dispatched to a porch fire on Merry Oak Road in the Lakeview Community. Whispering Pines Fire/Rescue was added to the call when it was determined that this would be a working fire. Prior to the arrival of the first fire engine the dispatch center advised that the fire had started on the front porch and had now extended into the residents but all occupants were out of the mobile home. Engine 211 reported heavy smoke showing on the horizon just prior to their arrival. Upon the arrival of E-211 they deployed two 1 3/4 inch attack lines and used them in a transitional attack from the front of the house and on the left flank of the house. As the fire was being knocked down the lines moved inside to start extinguishing the fire on the interior of the house. Other issues included fire under the house that was quickly extinguished and a live power line that had fallen to the ground in the front yard that required fire crews to work around the line. The power company was contacted for the downed line and the American Red Cross responded to assist the occupant with short term needs after losing many of his possessions. Moore County Public Safety conducted the fire investigation that determined that this was an accidental fire that started from an unattended charcoal grill on the porch that had been in use.
