VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — In the early morning hours of July 5, 2023, News 3 reported on a massive fire that ripped through a three-story home in the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach.
Less than two miles down the road, fire crews at Station 17 jumped into action, heading towards the smoke billowing across the water.
"The call came in as a fire across the water, so there really wasn't a distinct address at that time," says Master Firefighter Kevin Wirth. "We pulled on-scene and the house was fully involved—all three stories."
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Wirth has been fighting fires for nearly three decades. and this was one of the bad ones. Over 45 firefighters were involved in the response, VBFD says.
Wirth tells me a retired captain, who lives near the home on Sand Bend Road, believed people were still on the balcony.
"Everything's not A, B, C, D, you know, in our job," Wirth says. "[I went from] being the driver to now bringing the ladder around, throwing a ladder and, you know, starting to get ready for the rescue."
Within moments, Wirth raised a ladder against the home, helping one person get down. The other person on the balcony had no choice but to jump.
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Wirth says the firefighters down below positioned themselves in a way that broke the man’s fall.
Those two adults were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries, VBFD says.
"We had the right equipment, the right training, the right crew, and things went well that night," he says.
While the people inside were safe, crews still needed to put the fire out and stop any further damage.
"The fire wasn't out — just the people were rescued off the balcony. So, we still had a long night ahead. We were there till 6 a.m.," he says.
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For that relentlessness, the crew of Engine Company 17 was selected as News 3’s Everyday Hero. In partnership with Southern Bank, they also received a $300 gift certificate for their life-saving efforts.
Humbly, Wirth says it’s just part of the job, and they're prepared to do it again at any moment.
"Thanks to the community for supporting the fire service," he said. "We wouldn't be able to have the training, the equipment, the safety that we have in place and the positions that we have if it wasn't for people living here, paying their taxes, doing all that stuff."
Engine Company 17 was also recently given the prestigious Governor's Fire Service Award by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
