At 1712 Engine 22 and Truck 11 were alerted to a box alarm at 833 Decatur St. NE for the house fire. E-17 requested the box to filled, en-route to a RFA at this location, when they encountered heavy smoke was visible from a 2 story ordinary house when they entered the block. E-17 located a fire in the basement and extinguished the fire quickly. E-22, fourth due, picked up E-26's line and backed them up in the basement. T-11. 2nd due, encountered a difficult task as they had a 6 foot retaining wall in the rear. Once the ladders were in place the engine company's and T-11 were able to get to the rear on the structure. T-11 threw ladders, cut bars, and helped T-15 with ventilation. Crews cleared in about an hour.