Kitchener dispatch received a 911 January 21 22:00 from 172 Veronica Ave reporting flames encroaching her house from next door. While trucks were en-route to the fire PC asked dispatch if they had any more calls. Dispatch replied they had only had one call. P4 reported smoke visible from half a mile from the call. An additional pumper was added as the RIT team. P4 arrived on scene reported a working fire, asked A4 to lay into them, and for P3 to also catch a second hydrant. P4 captain could not access the rear due to a six foot wooden fence.

R1 was assigned to get to the rear to complete the 360. Crews advanced a 1.5” line in the front door but backed out less than a minute later due to high heat. R1 found a resident of the house in a hot tub in the rear of the structure. The individual was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital for further mental health evaluation. Firefighting was defensive until the bulk of fire could be knocked down. This was a very cold night, wind chill dropped the temperature to -22 F. Fire was knocked down in one hour, damage was pegged at $400,000. Siding was melted off 172 Veronica, but there was no extension into the house. Six of the seven Kitchener stations responded to the call rotating crews back to their stations to warm up.

The Box 690 Rehab Unit gave out lots of Hot Shot hand warmers on the night. It was so cold I took a few of the later photos through the window of the Rescue. I was handing out drinks from the rear of R1, had to keep them in the truck or they would be too cold for the guys. The back of our truck was only 56 F, couldn’t get anymore heat out of the truck. It actually felt warm in there and glasses would fog up on entry.

Gary Dinkel

Crews had just backed out of structure to go defensive.. Gary Dinkel photo

15 minutes into fire, crews have reentered house. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire vents through roof on E2 side of house. Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo