In the early nighttime hours on 2/4/2019, Townsend Fire (MA) was alerted to a fire on Fitchburg Road, just down the street from fire headquarters. On arrival companies had heavy fire showing from a four-story brick apartment building and struck quick second and third alarms, bringing mutual aid from both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As companies began their attack, conditions deteriorated with fire coming through the roof. A fourth alarm was struck and companies were ordered out of the building. Multiple aerial master streams were used to fight the fire defensively. Crews remained on scene throughout the night. More photos:
Kitchener P4, P6, A1, R1, Tank 1, P7, and Car 23 were dispatched to a garage fire at 1082 Wilson Ave January 25 at 16:15. The tanker was added as the closest hydrant would have required a pumper relay. The tanker is cross staffed by P7 firefighters, so they bring both trucks when the tanker is needed. P6 arrived and reported a fully-involved garage with one exposure of a small trailer near the front of the garage. P6 pulled one attack line and knocked what they could with their tank. P4 arrived shortly after and pulled two lines from their truck to work the fire. The tanker hooked up directly to P4 and made one trip to refill their 2,000 Imperial gallon tank (2400 US). The fire gutted the large garage and an antique tractor that was inside. Damage was pegged at $100,000. Box 690 provided rehab, photos and video taken 20 minutes into the fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo
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Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch toned out Breslau, Maryhill, and Conestogo fire departments for a structure fire at 201 Woolwich Street South in Breslau, January 22 at 12:16. Dispatch reported two people possibly in the house. A Breslau captain was near the house and helped get the two residents from the structure. He reported a working fire, with flames showing around a chimney on the E2 side of the house.
Breslau’s pumper arrived and picked up a hydrant. Crews performed a 360 and primary search of building while others pulled lines. Firefighters tried to enter the building that was on fire via the garage, but there was no access. They knocked the fire down from the exterior before finding access to the interior. The fire was contained quickly, with minor extension to the interior.
Two ambulances were requested as a precaution to check out the residents. The male was transported to hospital. The Ontario Fire Marshall was called to investigate the fire. Box 690 provided rehab.
I arrived just ahead of the Breslau pumper. It was a very cold day, so video has some movement in it from moving out of way of firefighters and having very cold hands.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
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STRATFORD, CT – Shortly before 1:00am on January 13, 2019, the Stratford Fire Department began receiving multiple calls for a fire at the historic Shakespeare Theatre at 320 Shore Rd. First units on scene found the unoccupied, vacant structure heavily involved and immediately started calling for more resources. Mutual aid responded to the scene from Bridgeport and Milford.
Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch 9-1-1 lines lit up at 8:10 August 22, 2018 for an explosion and fire at 56 Sprucedale Crescent on the west side of town. The initial dispatch was for an explosion and possible fire. Two pumps, 100’ quint platform, heavy rescue, and platoon chief were dispatched. Heavy smoke was visible as trucks were responding and a third pumper was requested to the scene.
P5 arrived first and reported debris all over the area with multiple houses on fire and stated they were going to look for victims. Neighbors reported there could be multiple people in the house. The adult male was pulled from the back yard by homeowners bordering the house. They told firefighters there was a female in the ruble at the rear but they couldn’t get to her due to heavy fire. Firefighters found the adult women and pulled her from the debris and reported she was 10-45.
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The fire extended into homes on either side of the house that exploded. Two additional pumpers were requested to the scene. Two commands were set up, one to look after the initial house and the house on the E4 side. The second command looked after the well involved house on the E2 side. A sixth pumper was requested a short time later.
Four hydrants were picked up, three on Sprucedale and one on Blackwell Drive where firefighters pulled a 2.5” line into the rear of the fire. Multiple small and large lines as well as the platform attacked the fire from the front. The bulk of the fire was knocked down in 45 minutes on the original home and E4 home. The E2 home had heavy fire throughout the house and eventually fire broke through the steel roof. Firefighters worked for hours on spot fires and securing the scene.
Gary Dinkel photo
Due to the magnitude of the call, media and helicopters arrived from as far away as Toronto. Kitchener Fire Chief Jon Rehill updated press throughout the day. Sixteen homes were evacuated and gas was shut off to their homes until the source of the blast could be determined. The Ontario Fire Marshall arrived at noon to help in the investigation.
The following day, Regional Police reported they were investigating the fire as a homicide. The adult male was airlifted in critical condition to a Hamilton hospital. Damage will exceed two million dollars. Box 690 provided rehab for nine hours. Photos and video taken 25 minutes into call after rehab was set up.
On 1/21/2019, the Hollis Fire Department (NH) was dispatched to a reported garage fire. Companies had heavy smoke showing and requested mutual aid engines and tankers to the scene. The fire was brought under control within the hour. Firefighters had to deal with a temperature of 0 degrees and wind chills as low as -21. Brookline, Amherst, Nashua, and Pepperell assisted at the scene. Additional photos
