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Photo
by: Bobby Haven /
The Brunswick News |
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A
Glynn County firefighters and volunteers waiting
behind the safety of fire trucks for the “all
Safe” signal to go in and fight a fire, which
appeared to have started by a man who had held his
daughter hostage for some time. He later was
found in the house dead. |
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Brunswick,
Ga. – On Wednesday, July 16 Chief Carl Johnson got on
the radio and called in Units to a structure fire at 433
Carteret Road. Dispatch was just about to tone fire
units and inform them that a hostage situation had
occurred and the man, a James D. Brock, 48 was inside the
residence. It was 1600 hours, hot and humid in the
Golden Isles.
Fire
units from the Ballard Fire Station arrived just minutes
later but could not make entry until the scene had been
declared safe. It was said that Brock had a riffle
inside the house and may use it. Firefighters staged
at a safe distance and waited.
It
was found that Brock had entered the residence against his
daughter’s will, bound and tied her up and held her
against her will. He
had threatened to kill his wife, son, daughter, and any
other family members.
The daughter was the only one in the house at the
time. In the
early afternoon she managed to escape and called police.
When
Glynn County police arrived they cordoned off a two-block
perimeter around the house. After the area was
secure the Glynn County Special Operations Response Team
arrived. It was then that Brock, who had barricaded
himself inside the home, apparently set fire to the
residence, according to sources.
Fire
Department personnel were forced to stand down as smoke
poured outside the house. It was decided that
firefighters could slow the fire with deluge guns and
Arial apparatus hitting the fire from a safe distance.
The temperature was in the mid to upper 90’s as
volunteers were toned to assist in suppressing the fire
when the scene was declared safe.
Eventually
three SORT officers and two Glynn County Firefighters
wearing bulletproof vests entered the burning residence to
apprehend the suspect and fight the fire. All
entered the residence with full protective clothing.
The body of James Brock was found with a loaded pistol
found near the body.
The
fire was quickly extinguished. A Glynn County
firefighter was treated on the scene for heat related
problems. He did not require hospital treatment.
Many firefighters were in turnout clothing for more than
one hour and all felt frustrated in not being able to
fight the fire in the early stages. All are thankful
that no one was seriously injured or hurt and that safety
was the primary goal in resolving a very difficult
situation.
Capt.
Neal Mann, Rescue Captain of the Glynn County Fire
Department says that the fire is still under
investigation.
It
was noted that Brock’s Ford Explorer had been seen near
the Carteret Street home for the past few days. It
appeared that the situation could have turned out much
worst for all parties.
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