Kitchener (ON) fire dispatch toned out Floradale, Elmira, St Jacobs, and Conestogo fire departments for a large shed fire at 7733 Reid Woods Drive, May 17 2017 at 12:40. Floradale arrived to a fully involved, 125’ x 40’ steel shed which contained a saw mill at one end, straw in the middle, and skids of corrugated boxes used to pack straw for sale at the other end. The southern end of the shed had large piles of wood ready to be cut that were also on fire. Temperature was in the mid 80’s with 20-35 mph north – east winds blowing embers at a wooden work shop 20 feet from the shed, a house, and a large barn less than 50 feet away.

The shed was already lost on arrival, so firefighters worked to save the other structures. The barn caught fire inside and out. Crews did a great job of knocking the fires in the barn quickly and saving all the other buildings. St Clements was added to the call for manpower as well as tankers from Waterloo and Linwood to augment water supply. Seven tankers shuttled 75 loads of water (164,500 imperial gallons, 197,400 US gallons) from two fill stations in Elmira a couple of miles from the scene.

Box 690 with the assistance of the Floradale Ladies Auxiliary provided rehab.  Thirty five firefighters consumed over 300 cold drinks, as well as 70 freezies, numerous sandwiches, and snacks.

Units on scene or at fill stations in Elmira:

• Woolwich Township

• Floradale pumper, tanker, rescue

• Elmira pumper, tanker, rescue (quint aerial on standby for other calls with four firefighters)

• St Jacobs pumper, tanker, rescue

• Conestogo pumper, tanker, rescue

• Wellesley Township

• St Clements pumper, rescue

• Linwood tanker

• City of Waterloo, tanker

• Box 690

Gary Dinkel, Box 690

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”1″ gal_title=”3-Alarm fire in Woolwich Township 5/17/17″]