Saturday afternoon(6/24/23), Berwyn & Cicero Fire Departments (IL) were receiving calls for a house fire around Cermak Rd & Harvey Ave, right on the border of the two towns. Berwyn Engine 903 arrived to find a well-advanced, fully-involved house extending to both exposures. Crews led out numerous lines to the front and back. Engine 902 was feeding the aerial pipe of the truck, and Engine 901 lead out through the gangways from the block over to the rear. All in all, the fire was at a Box Alarm level, and seven hand lines were in operation. Cicero Engine 2, Forest Park Engine 401, and North Riverside E807 were hard at work as well.
New Haven construction collapse 06/02/23 New Haven, CT – New Haven firefighters responded to 188 LaFayette St. shortly before one p.m. for a reported construction accident with a partial collapse. First-arriving companies found chaos throughout the site as workers were attempting to assist the injured, while others continued to work.
Firefighters found six people trapped within the collapse of wood forms, rebar, and wet cement. They had to work fast in dangerous conditions to search for and extricate the injured. Five workers were carried out via stokes baskets. One was removed via a high point, a hauling system set up using Truck 1 and ropes. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to rescue, package, and remove this worker. Eight were injured in the collapse with several in critical condition at area hospitals. The cause is being investigated by OSHA, the fire marshal’s office, and building officials. Glenn Duda
Waterbury, CT 3rd alarm 835 So. Main St. vacant building 05/27/23 Waterbury, CT – Waterbury FD companies found heavy fire issuing from a mill building complex at the site of the former Waterbury Companies, which has long been vacant. Crews had a difficult time accessing the area because of a river alongside and heavy vegetation. Three ladders, several multi-versals, and hand lines were used to control the fire which took about three hours. All Waterbury Fire Department companies were used to battle the blaze. The cause of the fire is suspicious. Several firefighters were evaluated for various medical conditions. Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking
New Haven 2nd alarm Abate’s Pizza 129 Wooster St. 05/11/23 New Haven, CT – New Haven firefighters received reports of fire from the roof of a commercial building, and arriving units found heavy smoke issuing from a one-story restaurant. Companies were met with a heavy fire condition in the cockloft. Engine companies quickly stretched two and a half inch hand lines, which were operated in a coordinated effort with truck companies for ventilation. This resulted in the fire being knocked down in about fifteen minutes. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire marshal’s office. Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking
19/June/2023 – Structure Fire with Injuries – “A” & “B” Shifts
A Green Pond Community (SC) home was destroyed and the occupant was injured in an early morning fire at 495 Weiss Lane Monday morning 19-June at 05:51. The adult male occupant advised he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and discovered the older, two-story wooden structure was on fire. The man was barely able to exit the burning home. The house was well-involved but he attempted to reenter the residence to rescue his 28-year-old speaking parrot. The flames and smoke prevented him from reaching the bird and the man suffered smoke inhalation and second degree burns. The parrot perished in the fire.
He then ran 1/2 of a mile down Weiss Lane to the Balchem Plant to ask for assistance and called 9-1-1 at 05:51. Colleton County Engine 6 and Medic 6 arrived minutes later to find the two-story, wood-frame dwelling fully-involved. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed two 2-1/2″ handlines and two 1-3/4″ handlines to the building. The structure collapsed shortly after fire department units arrived.
Barry McRoy photo
Engine 6 requested a second alarm and directed Engine 9 to setup a water supply point by the boat landing at Joe’s Fish Camp at the nearby Ashepoo River. A tender shuttle was established for water supply using eight tenders shuttling water for several hours. Saint Paul’s Fire Department sent an engine and tender as automatic aid. Due to limited access to the home on the single-lane dirt road, a staging area was set up for tenders near Balchem.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
The occupant, who was covered in ash and soot complained of difficulty breathing. He was treated at the scene by firefighter-paramedics, then transported to Colleton Medical Center in Fire-Rescue Medic 6. He suffered airway burns and was treated at CMC with advanced airway care. No helicopters could fly due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Fire-Rescue Medic 1 responded to the ED at CMC and with the CARE Flight Flightcrew, transported the man emergent to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Georgia two hours away. He was in critical condition. The home was completely destroyed and the man lost all of his belongings. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Engine 6, Engine 2, Engine 9, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 13, Tender 22, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 13, Battalion 1, Car 111, and Car 118 responded. St Pauls FD responded an engine and tender. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.
New Haven dock fire Long Wharf dock 05/31/23 New Haven, CT – New Haven firefighters found heavy smoke and fire involving the decking and support of the Long Wharf dock. They stretched hand lines the length of the dock to darken down the fire.
Ironically, New Haven’s fireboat is moored about seventy-five feet away and flowed water to extinguish the fire. The Freedom, an antique yacht built in 1926, was docked nearby and was briefly threatened by the fire. Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking
Meriden 6th alarm 169 Pratt St. building fire 05/05/23 Meriden, CT – Firefighters from the Pratt St. firehouse, only several block away, found a large factory building with heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear. The building was partially vacant at the time. Firefighters did a quick search and found one employee in the building and assisted him to safety before a second alarm was transmitted. Companies then went defensive. Multiple additional alarms were transmitted rapidly as the fire quickly extended throughout the building. The additional alarms brought companies from as far away as Hartford and Hamden to the scene. The fire took about two hours to bring under control. Companies remained on the scene for a fire watch throughout the night. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Meriden and State Fire Marshal’s office. Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking.com
