Guelph (ON) fire dispatch received a call from 6565 Ellis Road reporting a house fire with people trapped October 1 at 2:54. Puslinch Fire was toned out for the working fire. The first tone indicated 14 people trapped. The second tone minutes later reported all 14 residents had exited the structure. The 10,000 square-foot house is located half a mile from The City of Cambridge (Waterloo County).
Puslinch responded with a pump, 50’ quint, two tankers, and a heavy rescue. They arrived on scene and reported heavy fire venting from all three floors on the front of the very large house. Command requested Guelph’s tanker, a tanker and pumper tanker from Guelph Eramosa (Rockwood), and a pumper and tanker from Cambridge. Water was shuttled from a hydrant in Cambridge approximately a mile from the scene. The fire spread through the entire building within 20 minutes of arrival. The home had an indoor volleyball court, a large indoor fountain as well as three, oversized, double-bay garages. A number of high-end cars were in the garages and destroyed. Damage to the building is pegged at $2,000,000, while the damage for contents will be set at a later date. The fire is not suspicious having started in a basement utility room. Box 690 was requested via mutual aid to rehab 30 firefighters on scene.
Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch toned out Linwood and St Clements fire departments for a working fire in a shop at 4540 Lawson Line, September 28 at 16:00. Wellesley deputy chief requested Wellesley station be added to the call once he came on the air. The fire started in an air collection system beside the 40 x 100’, aluminum sided building and spread into the walls and roof. The fire was knocked down quickly, but overhaul took two hours to pull siding and insulation from the walls and roof. Water was shuttled by tankers from a fire department cistern located one farm east of the fire. Photos were taken during overhaul, approximately 45 minutes into the call. Box 690 provided rehab to the 35 firefighters on scene.
Kitchener (Ontario) firefighters battled a two-alarm fire in an old industrial building August 30 at 15:50. The fire was in what was believed to be an abandoned factory, formerly the Lang Tanning Company which has been vacant for more than 10 years. Firefighters have had numerous fires in the building over the years. Pump 2 arrived to heavy black smoke showing from the three-story structure. The building was being used to store cars and other equipment. Two cars were on fire in the middle of the building. The suspicious fire is under investigation. Box 690 provided rehab for the fire.
New Hamburg was toned out at 17:45 for a fire in the shop at 1527 Holland Mills Road. Baden was requested on a second alarm once New Hamburg confirmed with dispatch that there was a fire. New Hamburg arrived on scene reporting heavy smoke showing from a 100 x 100’ butcher shop. Numerous small and large lines were pulled around the building. A severe thunder storm rolled through the area just as the crews were fighting the fire.
Dispatch asked command if any Baden units were available on scene. They had a report of a building collapse with a trapped victim on Settlement Road in the northern end of their township. Command couldn’t free up any units. Wellesley Township, Wellesley station was dispatched to the call, reporting a 40 x 80’ building down 50’ feet from its foundation. The victim was out of the building on arrival. Due to the severe weather, firefighters were pulled from the roof until the storm passed.
New Dundee Fire was at a wires down call, just a few miles down the road. They advised they could free up the tanker and manpower if needed. Command requested their tanker and any manpower they could send. They sent their spare pumper and tanker to the scene. Firefighters worked interior and on the roof for hours trying to knock the fire down. A high hoe was brought in to pull the roof apart. The fire was declared out at 2:00. Box 690 provided rehab serving dinner and 200 cold drinks to the 35 firefighters on scene.
Kitchener, Ontario fire dispatch toned out Wellesley and St Clements for a barn fire at 4610 Hessen Strasse, August 9 at 7:35. Wellesley Township acting chief requested dispatch tone out Linwood for a full response as well. The large barn was fully involved on arrival. The owners of the property were using a garden hose to try to cool a driving shed next to the barn. This quick thinking likely saved the building. All firefighting was defensive. Command requested a crew to the scene from Baden to assist in suppression. Due to drought conditions in the Township, and a total fire ban, command made the decision to totally extinguish the fire. A large backhoe was used to pull the barn apart. Water was originally shuttled from a fire department cistern half a mile from the scene. Once emptied water was shuttled from a large spring fed pond two miles from the scene. The fire was declared out at 15:00. Fortunately the farmer had just sold 100 head of cattle, but lost six cows and a horse in the fire. Damage has been pegged at between $300,000 and $400,000. Box 690 provided rehab serving breakfast and lunch to the 35 firefighters on scene. Firefighters consumed 267 cold drinks over the course of the day.
Woolwich Township firefighters were dispatched to a wood pile on fire at 922 Katherine Street North, July 22 at 19:32. Kitchener Fire dispatch toned out a full response for Maryhill and Conestogo plus Elmira’s tanker. Conestogo reported smoke showing from their hall six miles from the scene.
Finished lumber, railway ties, and poles were well involved on arrival at the Mennonite sawmill. Maryhill and Conestogo pumpers set up port-a-tanks, with multiple 2.5” and 1.5” lines pulled from both trucks. Water was shuttled from a reservoir 1.5 miles from the scene.
Command requested Elmira’s pumper to respond to the reservoir to fill tankers and Floradale’s tanker to the scene. Shortly after command requested a full response from Floradale for manpower. Floradale was diverted to a second structure fire a couple of miles from the lumber fire but was released as they arrived at the scene. A portable pump was set up at a pond approximately 700 feet from the fire, supplying water for two 1.5” lines. The fire was declared out at 23:00. Box 690 provided rehab, serving 220 cold drinks, and lots of freezies to the 40 firefighters on scene.
