Kitchener Ontario firefighters battled their second working fire in two days November 4, 2016 at 22:50. Dispatch received multiple calls for a fire at Canada’s Best Value Inn at 1175 Victoria Street North. The location is a couple of minutes from my house. I arrived on scene as P2 was pulling into the motel. They had heavy fire venting from a second floor unit. All Kitchener pumpers have two pre-connected 200’ 1.5” attack lines on their front bumpers. P2 firefighters pulled the first line and had the bulk of the fire knocked down from the parking lot in less than a minute, before I could get my camera out of my bag after walking over quickly from an adjoining parking lot. Textbook knock down. Firefighters went interior to knock down the remaining hot spots and pull the ceiling. There was no extension to either side or to the attic. Box 690 provided rehab.
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.
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.
Kitchener, Ontario fire dispatch received multiple 911 calls for a house fire at 50 Breithaupt Street April 15, 2016 at 2:45. Responding firefighters could see a large glow enroute to the call. P2 arrived on scene reporting heavy fire in an attached garage with extension to two other homes. Twenty five firefighters worked two hours to knock the fire down. Two firefighters were slightly injured in a flashover on the second floor. Damage has been set at $500,000. The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called in to assist with the investigation. Box 690 on scene 6.5 hours providing rehab.
Kitchener fire dispatch received a 911 call reporting a barn on fire on Shantz Station Road near Vance Road in Woolwich Township, Ontario, March 2 2016 at 12:30. Breslau, Maryhill, Conestogo, and St Jacobs were dispatched to the call. Dispatch updated units on route that they had a call from the Regional Airport tower, located just west of the scene, reporting a barn and possibly house on fire.
Maryhill district chief reported a large loom up on the way to the call and requested Elmira’s tanker to the scene. Breslau’s pumper tanker arrived on scene reporting a fully involved building with a small barn and house as serious exposures. Firefighters pulled numerous 1.5” and a 2.5” lines to fight the fire and protect exposures. Maryhill’s pumper set up on the road for tanker operations and relay pumping to Breslau’s pumper.
The house caught fire due to radiant heat, but crews were able to knock it down quickly. More than 30 firefighters worked for two hours before knocking the fire down. Woolwich firefighters made a very good save at this fire. The barn had minimal damage, and the rear section of the home can be repaired. The main section of the century old home was saved with no damage. Box 690 provided rehab for the call. The first photo was shot before crews pulled their first line.
