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NEWS | April 4, 2007

Maintenance officer fights fire, saves 2

By Airman Melissa Harper 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A Charleston AFB Airman saved two lives by putting out a house fire March 24 around 12:30 a.m. at Park Hill Place in North Charleston, S.C. 

Capt. Clinton Varty, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron officer in charge of Blue Aircraft Maintenance Unit, had no prior firefighting experience when he helped combat the flames burning the house. 

The house was located near Captain Varty's friend's house where he spent the evening. He left his friend's house after midnight with his wife. 

"As she was driving down the road I caught something out of the corner of my eye and I thought someone was having a barbecue," said Captain Varty. "Then I realized it was too late and the flames were too big to be a barbecue." 

Captain Varty told his wife to back up to the house because it was on fire. He immediately asked her to dial 911 for emergency assistance. 

The flames spread across a 12-foot area and had reached the roof of the one-story house. The vinyl siding was melted and the fire was beginning to burn the wooden frame of the house. 

"I got out of the car and knocked on their door to see if anyone was in there but there was no response," said Captain Varty. "At that point, it just made sense to try and put out the fire until the firefighters arrived." 

He went around the house and found a hose and began dousing the flames with water.
After a few minutes, Perry Braithwaite, the homeowner, came out of his house to see what was going on. He found Captain Varty had already put out the flames. 

He continued spraying the side of the house to prevent the fire from starting again.
Shortly after, the North Charleston Fire Department arrived at the scene. They made sure the risk of the fire starting again was gone and the area was safe. 

"My wife and I are very thankful for [Captain] Varty because he saved our lives," said Mr. Braithwaite. "Our bedroom was right through the wall that was burning, but my wife and I were sound asleep so we didn't even know anything was happening." 

"I don't know how bad this could've turned out if I wasn't at the right place at the right time," said Captain Varty. 

The fire was caused by hot coals that were placed inside a bucket by the house. A pile of grass then caught fire from the coals and spread up the side of the home.