Kitchener (Ontario) dispatch toned out a full response for St Jacobs and Conestogo, and Elmira’s tanker for a possible barn fire at 1045 Benjamin Road June 17 at 18:36. The call was updated minutes later to a confirmed fire with a small explosion. Floradale’s tanker was added to the call at this time.
A St Jacobs captain arrived on scene and reported the large barn was fully-involved. The barn was approximately 120 x 60’ with a 50 x 50’ addition on the E2 – E3 corner of the barn. St Jacobs pumper set up beside the house and pulled three 2.5” lines and two 1.5” lines to protect exposures and attack the fire. Three port-a-tanks were set up beside the pumper.
A small shed 15 feet from the barn on the E1- E4 corner contained three skids with 500 gallon ethanol tanks. The first 2.5” line was pulled to cool the tanks. All firefighting was defensive. Waterloo’s tanker was requested to the call to supplement water. This was the first tanker fire call for the truck which went in service in January. Water was shuttled from a hydrant in Waterloo, approximately 2.5 miles from the scene.
A back hoe was used to pull the barn apart to get to hot spots. The fire was under control at 22:00. Fifty firefighters were on scene battling the fire on this very humid hot night. The Region missed the severe weather that hit Southern Ontario Tuesday, including a tornado which hit Angus. The cause of the $250,000 fire was incorrect mixing of fuels to make bio fuel. He was mixing old vegetable oil with methanol and potassium hydroxide.
Box 690 Canteen was on scene five hours providing rehab. Crews consumed 186 drinks, 285 snacks (including very popular freezies) and 12 XL pizza’s.
Gary Dinkel
Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Ethanol tanks being removed from storage shed. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Floradale’s tanker discharging 2,500 Imperial gallons (3,000 US gallons). Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Waterloo’s Pierce 2,500 Imperial gallon tanker. First tanker call for truck. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Elmira’s 2,000 Imperial gallon tanker. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690
