Orange County home damaged in fire with closest hydrant deemed 'inoperable'
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A woman in Orange County watched as her home burned down and firefighters struggled to pump water.
Orange County Utilities (OCU) and Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) confirmed the closest fire hydrant was not working the day of the fire.
It happened Oct. 26 at Wendy Chen's home on Buckhorn Run Court in Hunters Creek.
Chen tried to douse the flames herself with a garden hose. She said she was at first relieved when firefighters showed up to limit the damage. She said that relief turned to heartbreak when the hydrant did not work.
"It’s really not an easy feeling," Chen said. "Just stood there and watched the fire grow."
The fire damaged the home's second floor and back portion. Chen's library
Chen said the minutes it took for firefighters to make another connection felt like hours. She was overcome with emotion during the interview with FOX 35, but she still smiled and joked.
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"I always complained I needed sky light to have more light," Chen said. "I didn’t expect to have [it] wide open. I know everyone says everything happens for a good reason. It’s for [the] better. I don’t know what Boss wants me to do."
OCU and OCFR said the hydrant had been tested without issue twice this year: in March and in September. Firefighters reported the faulty hydrant right after the fire.
Orange County said on Oct. 28, "OCU investigated and found the hydrant was inoperable because of a mechanical issue with an internal component." It was temporarily taken out of service and fixed.
The gut punch for Chen is that she’s without insurance. Firefighters estimate her losses at more than $800,000. The widow has been relying on donations from friends and family.
"It’s a shame that at this age you have to ask [for] favors and help from other people," Chen said.
Evan Dimov, the electrician who helped Chen restore power so she could charge her phones and tools, was moved to help.
"She told me the story, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’" Dimov said. "She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met. The money that she paid us, we’re going to put the first deposit on the GoFundMe account."
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Chen is staying with her sister while she works on a plan to rebuild.
"I hope I am and will be the only one that suffers through this mentally and physically because of no water."
Chen said she doesn’t want to go through with any legal action. She said the firefighters worked so hard that day to try and help her out. She also said, at this point, she can’t afford an attorney.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Source: Information about the status of the faulty fire hydrant was confirmed by Orange County Utilities (OCU) and Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR). Evan Dimov created the GoFundMe and provided information about the validity of the account.