Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch received multiple calls for a fire October 22, 2017 at 17:35. P3, P4, A2, R1, and Car 23 were dispatched for a house fire near 266 Zeller Drive. Car 23 asked what details dispatch had on the call and the address was updated to Wild Meadow Street near Zeller Dr. It was a house under construction, and they were receiving multiple calls reporting fire on the second floor. P2 was added to the call as the RIT enroute to the fire. P3 arrived first reporting a large, 2.5-story house under construction with heavy fire showing on the E2-E3 corner, second floor. P3 attacked the fire from the outside awaiting P4’s arrival. P4 arrived a minute later and established a water supply and pulled a backup line.
Two 1.5” lines were pulled upstairs to attack the fire. R1 performed a primary search in the basement and on the first floor. Firefighters appeared to be getting a handle on the fire when smoke dramatically changed colour. Interior crews reported they had a flashover in the washroom. Command ordered the crews out and to go defensive.
Firefighters set up P3’s aerial for a master stream attack and pulled a 2.5” line to fight the fire from the exterior. The fire was knocked down fifteen minutes later. Crews reentered the structure to check for extension and to knock down the remaining hot spots. Box 690 provided rehab.
Early shots by Box 690 member Mike Wilson. I arrived on scene approximately 15 minutes into the call.
The Countryside FPD (IL) received a call reporting a basement fire with explosions at 4 Keuka Court in Hawthorn Woods Saturday night (5/20/17). The homeowner stated that there were model cars with batteries in the basement which might have explained the explosive sounds. Firefighters arrived to light colored smoke escaping from the house.
The working fire was upgraded to a Full Still and the a Box Alarm for change of quarters companies only. Interior companies had difficulty locating the seat of the fire within the basement and the need for more substantial water supply required an upgrade to a Box Alarm for tenders.
As the fire grew in intensity and compromised a section of the first floor, all crews were ordered out of the building as the tactics changed to a defensive attack. The alarm was upgraded to a 2nd Alarm roughly 35 minutes into the incident.