Fire Scene Video

Sunday March 1 was a very busy morning for Wilmot Ontario firefighters. Personnel from all three stations were taking an ice water rescue course across from the Baden fire hall. Kitchener fire dispatch toned out New Hamburg station for a MVC at Highway 7&8 and Nafziger Road around 10:50. New Hamburg responded with a heavy rescue, pumper, tanker, and 75’ quint.

At 11:10 Baden and New Dundee were dispatched to a structure fire at 126 Front Street in New Dundee. The address is half a block up the street from the fire hall. New Dundee came on the air and confirmed a firefighter reported the house had fire showing on the main floor of a large, two-story, century old home. A New Dundee pumper arrived within minutes and confirmed a working fire. Dispatch was asked to check with New Hamburg command to see if they could send their aerial and tanker as water supply for fires is provided by tankers filling from a dam two blocks from the scene. The accident was minor in nature and both trucks were released to assist New Dundee.

Dispatch advised they had a second structure fire in a large driving shed on Bethel Road approximately five miles from New Dundee. The New Hamburg tanker and rescue responded to the second fire, and mutual aid was requested from Ayr with a pumper, two tankers, and their chief. New Hamburg arrived and reported a tractor had been on fire in the driving shed, but quick action by the owner pushing the tractor out of the building with averted a potential structure fire. Ayr was returned before arriving and New Hamburg’s tanker was rerouted back to New Dundee.

The New Dundee fire appeared to have started in the kitchen while the tenants were away. The fire was knocked down quickly and a number of pets were brought out and resuscitated. Crews had hours of overhaul on their hands. The fire worked its way up the wall necessitating pulling all the walls down on the E4 side of the building up to the attic. The fire was not declared out until approximately 13:30. New Dundee P22 set up at the dam to fill tankers. Box 690 provided rehab. Photos taken 25 minutes into the incident, just after fire under control was broadcast. 

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

Canadian Firefighter at fire scene
Gary Dinkel photo
Wilmot Township fire engine
Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener fire dispatch received a 9-1-1 call for smoke in the area of 744 King Street East on October 27, 2019 just before midnight. A first alarm assignment consisting of Pump 12, Aerial 12, Tower 13, Rescue 11, and Car 123 (PC) was dispatched to the area. Car 123 arrived in the area and asked for any updates on the call, then confirmed a working fire on the corner of King and Stirling. Pump 11 was added as the RIT pumper upon arrival. The fire appeared to start in the basement of the two-story house which housed an insurance company. The fire had already burned through the first floor as crews were pulling multiple 1.75” and 2.5” lines from Tower 13. Firefighters were able to do a quick primary on the second floor, discovered only offices and quickly exited the structure. A12 and T13 both set up their aerials. The fire burned up through the middle of the building and through the roof. P11 picked up a third hydrant to feed T13’s 75-foot aerial. All firefighting was defensive. The fire was brought under control at 02:00. The Ontario Fire Marshall and Kitchener Fire Prevention were searching for the cause of the $600,000 fire. Box 690 provided rehab at the fire. Photos and video start 15 minutes into the fire. 

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo
house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo
house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo

Additional images and a video from the House fire in Kitchener, ON – February 5, 2020

basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo
basement fire at 76 Blackthorne Cres
Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener (ON) P12, A12, Tower 13 (using spare P19), R11, and Car 123 were dispatched to the end of Forwell Road for a possible fire, February 19, 2020, at 14:48. I was on the expressway just passing Kitchener HQ on the dispatch. I could see the smoke approximately 4.5 miles from the scene. Car 123 was just behind me and also could see the smoke once he got onto the highway and asked for an additional pumper, P14 and Tanker 17 as they were not sure how close the hydrants were to the fire.

Once on scene, P12 reported an abandoned building with heavy smoke and flames showing on the C and D side. P12 picked up a yard hydrant and laid in 500 feet of LDH. A 2.5” line was pulled for a defensive attack. Command requested A11 to the scene, and returned Tanker 17 to cover at Station 2. A12 was setup for an elevated master stream. P14 and P19 reverse laid 1,600 feet of LDH to a hydrant at the entrance to the gravel pit on Forwell Road. P19 relay pumped to A12.

The building was being decommissioned, and was being used to store rubber conveyor belts from when the pit was  in operation. The fire was contained to the older section of the structure and declared out an hour into operations. Photos and video start 10 minutes after P12 arrived on scene. Box 690 provided rehab for the 20 firefighters on scene.

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

heavy smoke from vacant mill building
Gary Dinkel photo
Pierce ladder truck at Kitchener fire scene
Gary Dinkel photo
Kitchener FD Pump 2 at a fire scene Spartan/Dependable
Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch toned out Floradale and Elmira for a barn fire in Wellington County at 7247 Line 3, January 9, 2020 at 7:50. Woolwich Township covers this area for Mapleton under contract. Floradale could see heavy smoke and fire as they pulled out of town and requested two additional tankers from St Jacobs and Conestogo.  As they got closer to the fire they asked for a full turnout from St Jacobs, and two additional tankers from Mapleton Township. Mapleton responded with a tanker from Moorefield, and pumper, tanker, and rescue from Drayton.

The large two-story chicken barn was fully involved from end to end on arrival. Multiple lines were pulled to protect exposures. The 100′ x 40’ building collapsed approximately 10 minutes after arrival. Firefighters were able to save a large shop that housed a window making business which was less than 25 feet from the fire, and a large barn. Fortunately the wind was out of the east, which made firefighting much easier. Normal winds are from the west which would have pushed the fire at the two exposures.

There were no chicks in the barn, a new crop was to arrive the following day. Damage pegged at $250,000. Box 690 and the Floradale Ladies Auxiliary provided rebab at the scene. Photos show set up at the fire. It’s a 30 minute drive to the fire from my house. A news article can be found HERE.

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

winter fire scene
Gary Dinkel photo
winter fire scene
Gary Dinkel photo
winter fire scene
Gary Dinkel photo
Canadian Firefighters use tanker shuttle at fire
Gary Dinkel photo
Canadian Firefighters use tanker shuttle at fire
Gary Dinkel photo
Freightiner fire truck in Canada
Gary Dinkel photo
fire scene command officer
Gary Dinkel photo

Cambridge, Ontario P32, P31, A36, A33, R31, and Car 323 were dispatched for a possible fire at 154 Holland Circle February 6, 2020 at 20:00. P32 arrived on scene reporting heavy fire showing from the main floor of a large single-family home, pulling two attack lines. Due to the volume of fire, and the fact that the fire originated in the basement, all firefighting was defensive.

Firefighters pulled additional lines and set up A36. Conditions were cold and windy night with heavy snow showers throughout the night. Firefighters were able to contain the fire from spreading to large homes on either side of the original structure. The fire spread to the second floor and attic. A34 was requested to the scene for manpower, and two overtime crews were called in to staff spare apparatus.

Cambridge has six stations staffed full time. A38 staffed by call-in crews was sent to the scene at 23:00. The was declared under control at 02:00 the following day. Firefighters remained on scene attending to hot spots well into the afternoon. The fire was believed to be electrical in nature, starting in the basement. Damage has been set at $700,000. Box 690 provided rehab. Photos and video start 25 minutes into the call. 

Gary Dinkel , Box 690

Cambridge Firefighters battle winter house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo
Cambridge Firefighters battle winter house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo
Cambridge Firefighters battle winter house fire at night
Gary Dinkel photo
Cambridge ON house fire video 2/6/20

Kitchener, Ontario fire dispatch toned out P12, Tower 13, A12, R11 and Car 123 on November 24 2019 at 12:30 for a possible structure at 656 Frederick Street. Tower 13 arrived on scene to white smoke coming from an attached garage. While they were pulling their lines a small explosion inside the garage quickly changed the smoke to dark black. There was gas, propane, and kerosene in the garage. The garage became fully involved threating the attached house and the house on the E4 side. Two additional pumpers were requested as firefighters attacked the fire with multiple lines. There was no extension into either house. Cause of the fire was listed as careless smoking. Photos and video start five minutes into the fire.

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
massive smoke from garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
Kitchener Firefighters battle a garage fire
Gary Dinkel photo
Pierce Impel quints in Canada
Gary Dinkel photo