A carport fire in the 1000 block of East Prince Road involving a duplex displaced a family of five. Remarkably it displaced the family that lived in the unit further from the carport.
Multiple calls were made to 9-1-1 by passers by as heavy black smoke billowed from the scene. Responding units from Tucson Fire also verified a column of black smoke in the area as they were en route. The first TFD unit arrived on scene and reported a carport on fire with flames impinging on the vehicle parked close to the carport.
Firefighters pulled a hose line to the fire and tried to extinguish the flames before they could spread into the living area of the duplex. The carport had a storage area where the majority of the flames were but firefighters were able to control the fire quickly.
Additional crews on scene confirmed that the fire did not spread into the home. Nine units and twenty-three firefighters responded to the scene and controlled the fire seven minutes after arriving.
Even though the fire was controlled quickly, the damage to the electrical wiring actually displaced the family that lived in the unit that was further away from the carport. The family consisted of a 37 year-old male, 35 year-old female, 9 year-old boy, 5 year-old boy, and 2 year old girl. Red Cross is assisting the displaced family.
Fire investigators were still working to determine the cause and origin of the fire.