The Milwaukee Fire Department battled a 4th alarm fire at Aguilar’s Welding on West National Avenue near South 12th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, July 19, 2019. Plumes of smoke were visible from the Marquette Interchange. Extreme heat and hazardous building contents were making it hard for firefighters to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters battled a stubborn fire that started in the attic after notifying the homeowner who was inside and unaware of the fire at 1318 E. Green Lane in Mount Prospect, IL 6/18/19.
more photos at Chicagoareafire.com
Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch toned out Baden and New Dundee stations for an attached garage fire at 1 Deerfield Extension in Petersburg, May 8 at 18:55. Baden requested a full response from New Hamburg while en route to the fire and reported smoke showing minutes before they arrived on scene.
Heavy fire was venting from a two-car, attached garage. Multiple small and large hand lines were pulled and knocked down the bulk of the heavy fire in 15 minutes with some extension into the attic of the house. There were several of propane tanks in the garage and a propane BBQ. Water was shuttled from the nearest hydrant four miles from the scene. Very good stop keeping the fire to the garage. Box 690 provided rehab. Photos taken 20 minutes into fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Woolwich Township (ON) firefighters were dispatched to a fully involved shop fire May 11th at 4:40 at 1088 Wittick Road. Floradale station reported they could see heavy fire from the station approximately 2.5 miles from the scene. Firefighters arrived to a fully involved 100’ x 30’, steel sided shop, which was attached to a large barn. Fire had extended into the barn.
Floradale pumper set up beside the barn and had their tanker drop a port-a-tank, dump their load, and drop their LDH to the road. Elmira’s pumper set up two port-a-tanks on the road for the five tankers to fill. Elmira’s aerial was at a hydrant in Elmira approximately 3.5 miles from the scene to fill tankers. Multiple lines were pulled around the structure.
The owners of the property were able to get most of the cattle from the barn. The interior crew was able to knock the fire down in the hay mow and the main floor of the barn. Crews outside cooled two large propane tanks and were able to hit the fire on the exterior of the barn. One fuel tank bled off just as I walked up to the scene.
Firefighters made a very good save on the property. No cattle were lost and the barn is still standing. One or both of the silos may need to be replaced. Damage has been pegged between $500,000 and $1,000,000. Box 690 and the Floradale Women’s Auxiliary provided rehab to the 50 firefighters on scene.
Woolwich stations on scene:
Gary Dinkel, Box 690 Canteen
Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch received multiple calls for a house fire at 116 Kingswood Drive April 24 at 2:40. P11, P15, A11, R11, and Car 123 were dispatched on the first alarm. P14 was added to the assignment due to multiple phone calls. Crews arrived to heavy fire through the roof of a six-unit townhouse complex. P11 pulled in from the Kingswood side of the building and had A11 set up their aerial on Alpine Road. P11 and A11 both caught hydrants.
Multiple lines were pulled to fight the fire. The fire appeared to start under the car port and spread up the wall to two units. One resident was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The fire stop between units E and D did its job preventing the fire from spreading into the other four units. Heavy fire was knocked down in 20 minutes, with overhaul lasting 1.5 hours. Damage has been pegged at $500,000. The Ontario Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire with Kitchener Fire Prevention officers. Box 690 provided rehab, photos taken 25 minutes into the fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Cambridge, (ON) P31, P35, A33, A34, R31, and Car 323 were dispatched to a structure fire at 201 Beverly St April 24 at 9:55. P35 reported they could see heavy smoke while responding to the fire. P35 arrived on scene reporting a large vacant building with heavy fire on the C – D side of the building extending from the first floor to the roof of the building.
Due to multiple previous fires at the former Joy Manufacturing building, all firefighting was defensive. There were holes in floors and needles throughout the structure. Police reported 12 homeless individuals were known to be living in the building.
Firefighters laid in from two hydrants to A34 and P35. A34 set up their aerial to attack the fire in the roof, while P35 pulled numerous lines to the rear of the plant. A33, a 60’ quint was replaced by A36, a 110’ platform which could reach the roof to pull off the fiberglass siding. Two piercing nozzles where used on the D side to get at the stubborn fire.
The fire was declared under control two hours after arrival. Primary and secondary searches where completed once the visibility in the building allowed firefighters safe access. Damage was set at $200,000. Box 690 provided rehab, photos taken 30 minutes into the fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
