firefighting in rural areas

All posts tagged firefighting in rural areas

Barn fire in Woolwhich Township, Ontario – June 17, 2014

Posted by firescenesadmin on June 20, 2014
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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

barn destroyed by fire

Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

barn destroyed by fire

Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

firefighters with hose at barn fire

Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

chemicals removed from shed at fire scene

Ethanol tanks being removed from storage shed. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

pumper tanker at fire scene

Floradale’s tanker discharging 2,500 Imperial gallons (3,000 US gallons). Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

firefighters in Canada rehab at fire scene on hot day

Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

Pierce pumper tanker at fire scene

Waterloo’s Pierce 2,500 Imperial gallon tanker. First tanker call for truck. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

Spartan pumper tanker at fire scene

Elmira’s 2,000 Imperial gallon tanker. Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

rural water supply at fire scene

Gary Dinkel photo, Box 690

Fire destroys local landmark in Colleton County, SC – May 4, 2015

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 7, 2014
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

A local rural landmark was destroyed in an early morning fire Sunday 04-May. At 04:54, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was sent to 26409 Augusta Highway, Brandy’s Social Club, for a reported fire in a building. Engine 9 arrived to find the building had already been destroyed and was almost burned out. The approximately 40’ x 45’ block structure had been known for the last several decades as the Edisto Tackle Shop and had a colorful past. It was most recently operated as Brandy’s.

Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4” handlines to extinguish the fire. The block enclosure was all that remained of the building, with a little wood around the top of the blocks still burning. The roof and all materials inside the building had burned long before the fire was spotted.

A single-story home located 20 feet away suffered minor exterior damage. A man traveling to work noticed the fire and alerted 9-1-1. The owner responded to the scene and advised us that the establishment was closed a little after midnight. A patron came back to the scene after daybreak, noting he picked up his car around 03:00 and did not notice anything wrong. The doors were still padlocked when firefighters arrived. Units were on the scene for a little over four hours. Water supply was handled with tenders. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

Engine 9, Engine 902, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 903, Tender 19, Medic 9, Medic 19, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

sparks from electric transformer exploding

Harold Buzzell photo

fireman using hose at night fire scene

Harold Buzzell photo

firefighter with flames

Harold Buzzell photo

fire tender nursing a pumper

Harold Buzzell photo

firemen working at night

Harold Buzzell photo

Working fire in Walterboro, SC – April 11, 2014

Posted by firescenesadmin on April 17, 2014
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

A Walterboro man narrowly escaped a house fire Friday morning 11-April.

At 06:12, 9-1-1 received several reports of a well-involved fire at a residence located at 410 Country Lane. Colleton County (SC) Engine 26 arrived to find a singlewide mobile home with an addition and attached garage approximately 60% involved. The only occupant was in the roadway with only the clothes on his back. When he discovered the fire, he was able to quickly exit the home through the garage.

mobile home engulfed in flames

Barry McRoy photo

mobile home engulfed in flames

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines to combat the flames. Fire had consumed most of the interior leaving only the walls on one end of the mobile home. The roof on the opposite end had already collapsed. Crews were able to make entry through the garage and stop the fire before it reached the garage area. The remainder of the house suffered heavy damage. A pickup truck in the back yard also suffered damage.

fireman silhouetted by fire

Barry McRoy photo

hoarder conditions in mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters had the fire under control within 30 minutes, but were on the scene for over three hours. The fire appears to have started in the area of the kitchen, but is still under investigation. Water supply was conducted with tenders.

hoarder conditions in mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

 

3-Alarm fire in Colleton County, SC – March 27, 2014

Posted by firescenesadmin on March 28, 2014
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A yard debris fire quickly escalated into a three-alarm response which destroyed three homes, a storage building and damaged a large, abandoned, wooden dwelling.  Approximately 10 acres of woods and brush were also burned.

At 13:42 Thursday 27-March, Colleton County 9-1-1 was notified by a caller who stated a yard debris fire had spread to two houses near 47 Harry Lane. The location is a dirt road located in a rural community in southern Colleton County off of Catterton Lane. Engine 13 arrived nine minutes later to find one single-story structure fully involved. The roof had already collapsed. A doublewide mobile home was also fully involved and a second doublewide mobile home was approximately 50% involved.

mobile home destroyed by fire

Harold Buzzell photo

Light winds had driven the fire across a broom straw field and into several wooded areas north and west of the structure fires. The fast moving grass/woods fire was threatening several other homes in the area. Engine 13 and the crew from Medic 13 deployed handlines to protect a mobile home near the third structure and two large LP tanks in the yard. Tender 13 was directed to Rufus Lane to the head of the woods fire to protect homes on Rufus Lane.

mobile home destroyed by fire

Harold Buzzell photo

mobile home destroyed by fire

Harold Buzzell photo

A second alarm and Forestry were requested. Engine 13 set up a ground monitor and directed the stream on the third structure, while crewmembers worked to extinguish the fires. When Battalion 1 arrived, he assumed command of the incident and requested a third alarm along with several brush trucks. Multiple handlines and master stream devices were used to bring the fire under control. The Forestry Commission responded with three tractors and a Ranger. Two homes were completely destroyed by the fire. The third structure, a doublewide mobile home suffered heavy damage, but several rooms were salvaged. A fourth wooden structure, that was vacant received minor damage. Firefighters kept the flames from reaching six other homes near the location. No injuries were reported.

brush truck at field fire

Harold Buzzell photo

tractor works at forestry fire

Harold Buzzell photo

The fire originated in a yard debris pile behind 47 Harry Lane. The homeowner had been burning debris from the recent ice storm. Light winds spread the fire into a nearby hedgerow, then through the yard to a one-story wooden home. The flames quickly consumed the wooden building. The fire then moved to a nearby doublewide mobile home, then to the third doublewide mobile home. The yard fire rapidly spread into a nearby broom straw field with the winds droving the fire in several directions endangering other buildings in the neighborhood. Firefighters and Forestry personnel were on the scene for over 4-1/2 hours. Water supply was conducted with tenders.

Engine 3, Engine 8, Engine 13, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 8, Tender 13, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 19, Tender 22, Tender 25, Tender 27, Tender 29, Brush 2, Brush 8, Brush 15, Brush 24, Medic 6, Medic 13, Medic 18, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 111, Car 118, three Forestry tractors and a Ranger responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape, Battalion Chief Scott Feather and Sd. Lt. Janet Laney operated the Command Post. Photos by Harold Buzzell.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

mobile home destroyed by fire

Harold Buzzell photo

firemen use deck gun to douse house fire

Harold Buzzell photo

mobile home destroyed by fire

Harold Buzzell photo

Mobile home fire in Colleton County, SC – February 27, 2014

Posted by firescenesadmin on March 2, 2014
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

A yard debris fire spread to a home at 510 Bee Street west of Walterboro (SC) Thursday afternoon, 27-February. At 15:54, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified that the fire had burned under the residence and the home was full of smoke. Engine 24 arrived six minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from the singlewide mobile home and flames under the full length of the building extending up the walls in several places.

iceman battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

iceman battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines with one crew working the front of the home and the other extinguishing flames at the rear. After five minutes, most of the exterior flames were extinguished, but the fire had burned into the walls along the back of the mobile home and in several places along the front. Firefighters removed the exterior metal siding and pulled up the floor in multiple rooms to reach the remaining flames.

fireman battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

fireman battle mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

A great deal of personal items were salvaged, but the home suffered heavy damage. The fire was caused by a few leaf piles that were burning in the yard. Light winds of 10 mph spread the fire through the yard until it burned underneath the mobile home. The fire then spread to the structure. All occupants safely exited the building. Water supply was conducted with tenders. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.

fire trucks at fire scene

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 27, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

 

House fire in Colleton County, SC – December 28, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on January 2, 2014
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, NEW. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

A Rentz Drive home was heavily damaged by a mid-day fire Saturday, 28-December. At 14:18, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of smoke coming from the attic of a home at 355 Rentz Drive near the rural Hudson Mill Community. Engine 1 arrived six minutes later to find flames across the roof of the one story residential dwelling. Firefighters used a deck gun to knock down the heavy flames, then deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire. The roof collapsed shortly after fire units arrived. Crews had the fire under control in less than 30 minutes, but were on the scene for 2-1/2 hours. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle. Engine 26 setup drafting operations at a dry hydrant in a pond approximately one mile from the scene.

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

All of the occupants were able to safely exit the building when they discovered the fire. Most of the fire damage was isolated to the attic and roof, but the living area suffered water damage and drop down debris from the attic. Many personal items were salvageable, but the home suffered substantial damage. The origin of the fire appears to have been electrical in nature. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County Fire Rescue personnel battle rural house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 8, Tender 15, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

 

House fire in Springhill, SC – November 22, 2013

Posted by firescenesadmin on December 9, 2013
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, PREVIOUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

A vacant residence was moderately damaged after a yard debris fire spread to the building. The yard fire caught the siding of the building on fire in two places, then advanced up the walls into the attic. The fire also spread into the adjacent woods and endangered a mobile home on the property.

Colleton County (SC) Firefighters arrived to find an approximately 1 acre grass fire, smoke coming from the woods, and heavy smoke coming from the wooden single-story building, with flames visible from the roof at the rear of the building. Crews deployed two 1-3/4 handlines, knocked down the yard fire near the mobile home, and the fire on the exterior of the structure. They then advanced the line inside the structure and extinguished the fire in the front room. Firefighters pulled the ceiling in the back bedroom to reach the fire in the attic. It was necessary to remove a portion of the metal roof to access the fire under the tin. No one was living in the home. A SC Forestry Tractor was called to plow a fire line around the woods fire. Fire units were on the scene for two hours.

Engine 1, Engine 6, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 25, Tender 27, Medic 6, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 105 and Car 111 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy

Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

 

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue Department

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue Department

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue Department

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue Department

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue Department
Barry McRoy photo