St Clements and Linwood (On) were dispatched for a structure fire at Broadway Metals, 3002 Broadway Street November 26 2017 at 22:00. Dispatch reported tires on fire beside the building. St Clements requested Wellesley’s tanker on route to the call. Pump 2 arrived on scene reporting heavy fire on the E3 side of the building with possible extension into the office. P2 set up for drafting and pulled multiple lines. Linwood P1 set up at the fire department reservoir located on the E1 – E4 side of the building. A four-inch line was deployed to the rear of the building from P1 and a portable hydrant was set up. Multiple lines were run off the portable hydrant. Command reported multiple double stacked skids with rubber dock bumpers on fire below grade beside the building. St Clements firefighters reported minor extension into the attic of the business. Command requested Wellesley’s aerial and rescue respond with manpower. The heavy fire was knocked down in 25 minutes with overhaul taking another couple of hours. The Ontario Fire Marshal was called in to investigate the suspicious fire. Box 690 provided rehab for 3.5 hours, our second fire that day. Members got to bed at 2 am and half an hour later were out to the Ellis Road fire in Wellington County, photos posted back in November. Photos taken 25 minutes into 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.
