During a trip to the city of Detroit in September, we attended this job in an occupied apartment building at Dragoon & Regular. It seemed like a typical quick knock down offensive attack, but a few minutes after we arrived the smoke pushing from the 2nd floor became quite heavy, and the fire was soon through the roof. Conditions were tough as it had been a very hot day and the humidity was extremely high and all the smoke just hung at street level. I got some images of the truck company leaving the roof as the fire was venting right on their heels. Judging by the graffitti on the walls of the building this was probably some sort of gang related arson. At any rate the members took quite a beating on this one. In the video and photos you can see a PPV fan operating at what appears to be the high point of the fire. I believe this unit was used on the other side of the intact firewall in an attempt to keep the smoke and heat from the uninvolved structures. At first it seemed kind of crazy to me but perhaps it had a good effect … may have made conditions more tenable in that exposure.
On Saturday, Jan. 30, Frederick County Fire & Rescue units were alerted for the basement fire on Greenlea Ct in the Lake Linganore area of New Market, MD. First arriving units from Co. 15 reported smoke showing from the house and confirmed a working basement fire with extension upwards to the first floor of the residence. Fire attack crews found a heavy fire load in the basement and conditions deteriorating quickly. A full working fire dispatch and rapid intervention dispatch was sounded. Additional alarms/special calls for more manpower and apparatus were sounded. Firefighters found hydrants in the neighborhood buried as a result of the recent snowfall from the 2016 blizzard and had to spend time clearing the hydrants before getting water. Units were on the scene for a few hours performing overhaul and investigation. Chief 15-1 had command.
I happened to be at Co. 24 in Walkersville taking photos of their rescue squad rig when the box was struck so I was in good position to get photos on this job.
