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All posts for the month October, 2013

Powerhouse Fire, Lancaster, CA June 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 23, 2013

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, PREVIOUS. Tagged: CA, DC-10 air tanker, DC-10 VLAT drops fire retardent, Lancaster, Mike Meadows, Powerhouse Fire, southern California wildfire. Leave a Comment

Mike Meadows from Los Angeles submitted this image from:

`The DC-10 makes a drop on the Powerhouse Fire. The plane is 200 feet above the desert floor. The fire burned in excess of 30,000 acres in June of this year near Santa Clarita, CA. The fire burned for nearly two weeks and destroyed 30 homes.`

DC-10 dropping fire retardant at wildfire

Lancaster, CA. The massive DC-10 air tanker makes a drop of retardant only 100 feet off the ground as a huge brush fire roars out of the mountaines and into the desert of the Antelope Valley. The fire burned well over 30,000 acres and destroyed some 30 homes. Mike Meadows photo

Vehicle extrication in Colleton County, SC – October 19, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 22, 2013

Posted in: Fire Rescue Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: Barry McRoy, Colleton County Fire-Rescue, Holmatro tools used in extrication, LifeNet Air Medical Services, medevac helicopter, ruck flips and crashes into tree in rural South Carolina, vehicle extrication. Leave a Comment

The Colleton County Fire Rescue Department, established in 1994, provides emergency services to an immense response area, covering 1,132 square miles. Operating from 31 fire stations located in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the agency holds an ISO Class 4 rating. The staff is comprised of 250 volunteer firefighters, supported by 72 cross-trained career personnel. Fire-Rescue operates a fleet of 107 vehicles including 34 engines, 34 tenders, eleven ambulances, two tower ladders, one Hazardous Materials/Command Vehicle and one ARFF truck. As their district includes hundreds of miles of two-lane, rural, country roads and highways, they respond to a large number of motor vehicle accidents, many of which are in remote areas and require extensive extrications to free the occupants.

Colleton County Fire Chief Barry McRoy has submitted images from a recent event that occurred this past weekend.

A 22 year old man received multiple traumatic injuries in a single vehicle crash on a hunting club road off of Parkers Ferry Road Saturday evening 19-October. The pickup truck was traveling at a high rate of speed and left the narrow dirt road, entering the woods before it flipped over multiple times. The truck hit several trees, breaking one off at the base, causing heavy damage to the pickup truck. The vehicle came to rest on the passenger side. The driver was trapped inside with his legs crushed between the dash, seat, and floor. The patient was dangling from his position. His father arrived shortly after the accident occurred and was able to hold the patient up until rescuers arrived later to relieve him. The accident occurred approximately five miles into a remote tree farm and then down a narrow dirt road providing access to a hunting club. The vehicle was approximately 75 feet into the woods. Responding units had some difficulty locating the accident in the desolate wooded area. One of the hunters met with Battalion 1 and lead him into the scene. Traffic cones were placed at the head of the road to guide other units to the accident site.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue at accident scene

Barry McRoy photo

Crews initially used a Holmatro Combi-tool from Battalion 1 to begin the extrication. Rescue 1 had an extended arrival time due to the road conditions. Firefighter-Paramedics began treating the patient who was heavily entrapped in the wreckage. Other crewmembers used Holmatro hydraulic tools and a reciprocating saw to remove the roof of the pickup truck. A medical helicopter was placed on standby. Crews used hydraulic spreaders, cutters, and a ram to displace and remove portions of the interior. The bottom of the truck was chained to a tree to stabilize it. Crews eventually were able to rig chains around the steering column to pull it and the dash off of the patient to free him. The extrication took a little over two hours. He was removed to a spine board and placed in Medic 9.

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 6 and Medic 6 set up a landing zone at the Jacksonboro Baptist Church on Charleston Highway approximately 8 miles from the scene. Medic 9 transported the patient to the church to meet with LifeNet 4. The patient was transferred to the flight crew without incident. Despite his injuries, he was flown in stable condition to the trauma center at MUSC in Charleston. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Barry McRoy photo

Life Net Medical Helicopter at accident scene

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 2, Engine 6, Rescue 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief

Colleton County Fire-Rescue

2-Alarm fire in Hartford, CT – October 20, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 21, 2013

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: 2-11 Alarm fire in Hartford, fire scene photos, Hartford Fire Department, heavy smoke behind tower ladder at fire scene, heavy smoke from attic, heavy smoke from house fire, Patrick Dooley, portable command board at fire scene, Sutphen tower ladders working at Hartford fire scene, tower ladder working at fire scene. Leave a Comment

Hartford, CT responded to 19 Colebrook St on 10/20/13 @1458 hours for a report of a structure fire. Ladder 4 arrived and reported heavy fire showing from floor #1. Soon after arrival, companies were advised of an occupant trapped. With heavy fire on floor #1 extending upward, companies were attempting searches when Ladder 3 noticed the male in the window of the attic (floor #3) and were able to rescue him using the bucket of their tower ladder. With fire conditions in the house getting worse, a 2nd alarm was transmitted. The occupant and two firefighters were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. During this fire, there was another structure fire reported in Hartford, so mutual aid was requested to cover the city.

Stay safe,

Patrick Dooley

Patrick Dooley photo

More pictures on my web site www.squadfirephotos.com

3-Alarm fire in Maywood, IL – March 13, 2010

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 20, 2013

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, PREVIOUS. Tagged: American LaFrance fire truck, fire scene photos, fire trucks at night fire scene, fireman using deck gun at big fire at night, Grumman AerialCat fire truck, heavy fire as engulfs building at night, Larry Shapiro, night fire scene photo, night fire scene photos, Nova Quintech fire truck. Leave a Comment

With no new fires to post, I wanted to share images of this commercial fire from 2010 in Maywood, IL.

The fire was in a three-story building at 20 N. 5th Avenue that housed a thrift shop, a dance studio, and an apartment, which was located at the back of the building’s second floor. Before I arrived, a boy was rescued from the apartment.

It was a cold, rainy night with low hanging smoke, all of which combined for less than ideal conditions for photography.

Both of the aerials working at the scene were unique. First was the Maywood Spartan/Darley/Nova Quintech, which was one of only a few (possibly no more than three) Nova Quintechs in the entire Chicago area. The other was a one-of-a-kind American LaFrance/Grumman AerialCat from the town of Broadview.

Maywood Fire Department 3-Alarm fire at 20 N 5th Avenue March 13 2010

Larry Shapiro photo

2-Alarm house fire in Colleton County, SC – October 14, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on October 19, 2013

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: Barry McRoy, Colleton County Fire-Rescue, fire department water tenders, fire engine at fire scene, fire scene photos, heavy fire at rural house, night fire scene photos, night time house fire. Leave a Comment

A Ruffin SC family was displaced following a fire in their residence at 471 Paps Place off of Red Root Road, Monday morning 14-October at 00:54. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 18 arrived to find the one-story wood frame structure approximately 65% involved, with flames through the roof on the south side of the building. All of the occupants had safely exited the building prior to Fire-Rescue’s arrival.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue battles house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines. A second alarm was issued shortly after arrival for additional tenders and personnel. The home was located near the end of a ½ mile long, narrow dirt road, presenting some access problems for responding apparatus. Units staged ½ mile away on Red Root Road until the tenders completed their dump and then rotated into the scene. Firefighters knocked down the bulk of the fire within 25 minutes, but were on the scene for four and a half hours performing overhaul. They were able to stop the spread of the fire to the north end of the structure, however the remainder of the building suffered heavy heat, smoke, and water damage. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle from a pressurized hydrant about 3 miles from the scene.

Barry McRoy photo

One of the occupants reported he was watching TV when he smelled smoke. Upon investigation, he located a fire in the utility room, with flames already reaching the ceiling. He ran outside to retrieve a fire extinguisher from a vehicle, but when he returned the room was well involved. He got everyone else out of the home and they called 9-1-1. No one was injured during the fire. Fire investigators determined the fire originated in the utility room near the area of the gas hot water heater. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.

Barry McRoy photo