ABOVE: Russell and Theanea Boesma
Two adults and seven children escaped a fire that ravaged their home Tuesday, Nov. 27 in the 300 block of Silverdust Place.
A call came into emergency communications at 2:57 p.m. Lt. Jason Elmore of Chesterfield Fire and EMS said crews found heavy fire emanating from the house when they arrived on scene.
The residents, who were home at the time of the fire, evacuated.
The fire was so intense, a second alarm was declared at 3:23 p.m., which enabled the dispatch of additional firefighters.
Firefighters were inside battling the blaze and an evacuation order was given, Elmore said. Firefighters then knocked down the fire from the outside, re-entered the house and continued to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters from Rivers Bend, Dutch Gap and Chester, along with two battalion chiefs, a tactical safety officer, a medic unit and county police responded to the first alarm. The second alarm dispatched crews from Manchester, Harrowgate and Ettrick fire stations along with an additional medic and two fire marshals.
Elmore said the Red Cross is assisting the family.
The cause is under investigation.
A gofundmepage.com fundraiser was set up online for the family.
A Chesterfield firefighter said Theanea Boesma and her husband Russell Boesma lost everything in the fire. The Boesmas are nurses, and have fostered and adopted numerous children over the years, the firefighter said.
