fire in Woolwich Township Ontario

All posts tagged fire in Woolwich Township Ontario

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.

barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo

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.

barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
long hose lay at barn fire
Gary Dinkel photo
barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo
aftermath of a barn fire in Woolwich Township ON
Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich stations on scene:

  • Floradale pumper, rescue, tanker (3,000 US gallons)
  • Elmira pumper, rescue, aerial, pumper-tanker (2,500 US gallons)
  • Conestogo pumper-tanker (3,000 US gallons)
  • St Jacobs tanker (3,000 US gallons)
  • Maryhill tanker (3,000 US gallons)
  • Box 690

Gary Dinkel, Box 690 Canteen

Woolwich Township FD tanker
Gary Dinkel photo
fire engine with lines off
Gary Dinkel photo
Floradale Fire Department tanker
Gary Dinkel photo
Woolwich Township FD tanker
Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener, Ontario Fire Dispatch toned out St Jacobs, Elmira, and Conestogo fire departments for a house fire at 1165 Apple Grove Road, June 9 2018 at 22:00. St Jacobs’ district chief arrived on scene first and reported heavy fire showing from the basement of the house. St Jacobs pumper set up in front of the house and pulled two 1.75” lines and a 2.5” line for a Blitzfire attack. St Jacobs tanker reverse laid 850’ of high vol line to the east of a fire to a large parking lot where Conestogo’s pumper set for water relay. Tankers filled at a hydrant approximately half a mile away. The fire was knocked down in 20 minutes. Regional Police arrested a woman and charged her with a number offenses in regard to the fire. Damage will exceed $300,000. Box 690 provided rehab for the 25 firefighters on scene.

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

fire truck in Canada drafts from portable tanks

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

fire engine in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Firefighters in Woolwich Township Ontario battle a house fire at night

Gary Dinkel photo

Box 690 Rehab at a fire scene on Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

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.

Gary Dinkel

Box 690

fire engine drafting from portable tanks

Gary Dinkel photo

fire at Mennonite saw mill

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

firefighters at rural fire scene

Gary Dinkel photo

portable fire pump drafting from pond

Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener, Ontario fire dispatch received multiple calls reporting a fire at the St Jacobs farmers market at 13:30 May 26 2016. St Jacobs, Conestogo, and Elmira were dispatched to the fire. The fire started on the roof after a blow torch was used to make repairs. St Jacobs arrived on scene with black smoke showing from the middle of the two-story building. A sprinkler system was just installed two weeks ago, and has been credited with keeping the fire from spreading throughout the building. The fire was knocked down quickly, but due to three layers of roofing required heavy overhaul to get to all the hot spots. The hot day was taking a toll on firefighters, so command requested a Breslau pumper, and a pumper from Waterloo at 15:00. The fire was declared out at 17:00. Box 690 provided rehab, serving 150 cold drinks and lots of freezies. Photos were shot approximately 40 minutes after arrival of first trucks.

Gary Dinkel

Box 690

firemen rehab after fighting a fire

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich Township fire truck Conestoga

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fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich Township fire truck Conestoga

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

fire scene in Woolwich Township Ontario at the St Jacobs Farmer's Market

Gary Dinkel photo

firemen overhaul roof after fire

Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich Township fire truck Elmira

Gary Dinkel photo

Breasleau fire truck Woolwich Township

Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich Township fire truck

Gary Dinkel photo

Woolwich Township fire truck

Gary Dinkel photo

firemen rehab after fighting a fire

Gary Dinkel photo

Kitchener, Ontario fire dispatch toned out a full response for Conestogo and St Jacobs, and Elmira’s tanker for a house fire at 440 Country Squire Road, April 7, 2016 at 16:50. Two Conestogo fire firefighters live a few doors up from the fire, and they reported a working fire, with heavy smoke and the possibility of an elderly lady in the house. They tried to search for the occupant but without SCBA were pushed back by heavy smoke. Conestogo arrived on scene and lines were pulled into the house and a primary search was initiated. Crews found the occupant quickly and brought her out to awaiting EMS. The elderly lady was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The fire was knocked down in ten minutes. The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate the fire. Box 690 provided rehab.

All photos

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

firefighters and EMS personnel attend to a victim of a house fire

Gary Dinkel photo

firefighters and EMS personnel attend to a victim of a house fire

Gary Dinkel photo

Freight liner fire truck in Canada

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Freight liner fire truck in Canada

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KME fire truck in Canada

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Spartan fire truck in Canada

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house fire scene in Ontario Canada

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house fire scene in Ontario Canada

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firefighters at work in Ontario

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firefighters at work in Ontario

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house fire scene in Ontario Canada

Gary Dinkel photo

Freight liner fire truck in Canada

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Kitchener Fire Dispatch toned out a full response from Maryhill and Conestogo plus the St Jacobs tanker for a confirmed house fire at 1364 Durant Road at 12:02 pm March 3, 2014. The Maryhill pumper reported smoke showing approximately two miles from the scene. Breslau’s pumper tanker was then added to the call as the fourth.

The Maryhill pumper arrived on scene and reported a century-old building was fully involved. Two port-a-tanks were set up beside the pumper. Water was shuttled from a hydrant at the Breslau fire hall, approximately five miles from the scene.

The original front section of the home was built in 1888, and had a tin roof. The wind chill dropped the temperature to -10 F, making firefighting very difficult. Crews worked six hours to fully extinguish the fire. 

Box 690 served 100 hot drinks, eight dozen chili dogs, 40 cold drinks, and 200 snack items at the fire.

All photos

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

winter fire scene photo

This photo shows rear of building, back wall is totally burned out, car port roof has collapsed. Shot taken 45 minutes after arrival of Maryhill pumper. Gary Dinkel photo

firemen at winter fire scene in Canada

Gary Dinkel photo

fire engine drafts from portable tank at winter fire

Maryhill pumper drafting from port a tanks. Gary Dinkel photo

firemen battle winter house fire

Gary Dinkel photo

firemen with hose line at winter fire scene with wall of smoke

Gary Dinkel photo

firemen rest after battling winter house fire

Gary Dinkel photo

fire department water tanker shuttle water in the winter

Gary Dinkel photo

firemen with hose battle winter house fire

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house gutted by winter fire

Three hours after arrival. Gary Dinkel photo

fire department water tanker shuttle water in the winter

Gary Dinkel photo

house destroyed by fire in the winter

Gary Dinkel photo

chimney with ice after house fire

Closeup of marker showing the year 1888. Gary Dinkel photo

July 17, 2012, 2936 Arthur St North, just north of Elmira Ontario Canada. Box 690 members were at Station 5 in Kitchener restocking supplies from a call in Petersburg when Floradale, Elmira, Conestogo, and St Jacobs were toned out for a wood shop fire at 10:20 am. Floradale firefighters reported heavy smoke showing from their hall. This was the hottest day ever on this date (118 F). The building was fully involved on arrival. The fire had spread to two 54’ trailers that contained wood, and piles of lumber on the E4 side of the building, and a large storage shed full of wood to the rear of the structure. More than 60 firefighters were on-scene battling the fire and the heat of the day. Water was shuttled by three tankers from a large pond located adjacent to the fire, to the St Jacobs pumper that set up on Arthur St. Elmira’s P1 set up to draft at the pond, and a 4” supply line was hand laid from the pond, 1,400’ to the Floradale pumper.

 The fire was at a Mennonite Wood Business, damage was over $1,000,000.

Box 690 responded initially with three members. We were very fortunate to have the assistance of the Floradale Ladies Auxiliary at this fire. Box 690 was on scene for eight hours and served 1,278 food and drink items on that day. This was by far the largest call in terms of product served that we have had in our 25 years of service.

 Photos by

Gary Dinkel

Box 690

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Rear of structure, Elmira’s quint was used to extinguish the fire in the Cyclone. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

shows the section of the large shed that firefighters saved. Note the there is only a pile left at the far end of the photo. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Floradale pumper, Mennonite buggy, old meets new. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo