A 2-Alarm fire at 540 Stirling Avenue South in Kitchener, Ontario in bitter cold conditions.
Kitchener Fire Department
All posts tagged Kitchener Fire Department
Kitchener Ontario firefighters responded to a townhouse complex under construction August 24 at 19:50 hours. The large complex had fire showing on the end unit with extension into the next unit on the B side. Six of the seven stations were eventually dispatched to the fire. The three-story building of origin collapsed within six minutes of the fire department’s arrival. Five pumpers, two quints, a heavy rescue, and the Platoon Chief responded to the call.
Three pumpers set up at the rear of the complex on Manor Drive to protect houses from radiant heat and to knock down wooden fencing and decks that were on fire. Firefighters picked up two hydrants and pulled multiple lines to protect the houses. A number of houses had cracked windows, melted siding and melted roofing. Firefighters worked in very hot conditions to prevent the homes from catching fire.
At the front of the building, both quints set up and firefighters tapped into three hydrants. Multiple lines were pulled and the deck gun was used by P 11 once the water pressure was boosted in the area. The fire was brought under control in 45 minutes. Twenty eight units were damaged or lost in the fire. Total loss has been pegged at $2,000,000. Shots start 20 minutes after firefighters arrived. Attached link has good early video from fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Kitchener Pump 14 , Pump 16, Aerial 11, Rescue 11, and the Platoon chief were dispatched to Costco on King St for a possible fire June 25 at 23:30. Responding firefighters received an update that the fire was at the Value Village across the street on Gateway Park Drive The fire was initially thought to be at the loading dock but it was a trailer on fire. Tower 13 was added to the call on this report.
Pump 14 reported smoke and flames visible as they neared the scene. A 53’ trailer parked in the loading dock was fully-involved only a few feet from the large store, and there were two other nearby trailers. Pump 16 picked up a hydrant for Pump 14, and Aerial 11 picked up a second hydrant at the rear as they pulled in. Crews pulled large lines and set up a blitz fire while Aerial 11 checked the roof.
A passing truck stopped and offered to help by moving the trailer. Command asked the driver to pull the trailer away from the dock. Once the trailer was moved firefighters confirmed there was no extension into the structure. The trailer was full of donations including clothes, toys, and household materials. The fire took a couple of hours to fully extinguish. Due to the trailer being compromised no firefighters were allowed inside it. Box 690 provided rehab to the 19 firefighters on scene. Photos start 15 minutes after crews arrived.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Kitchener fire dispatch received a 9-1-1 call for smoke in the area of 744 King Street East on October 27, 2019 just before midnight. A first alarm assignment consisting of Pump 12, Aerial 12, Tower 13, Rescue 11, and Car 123 (PC) was dispatched to the area. Car 123 arrived in the area and asked for any updates on the call, then confirmed a working fire on the corner of King and Stirling. Pump 11 was added as the RIT pumper upon arrival. The fire appeared to start in the basement of the two-story house which housed an insurance company. The fire had already burned through the first floor as crews were pulling multiple 1.75” and 2.5” lines from Tower 13. Firefighters were able to do a quick primary on the second floor, discovered only offices and quickly exited the structure. A12 and T13 both set up their aerials. The fire burned up through the middle of the building and through the roof. P11 picked up a third hydrant to feed T13’s 75-foot aerial. All firefighting was defensive. The fire was brought under control at 02:00. The Ontario Fire Marshall and Kitchener Fire Prevention were searching for the cause of the $600,000 fire. Box 690 provided rehab at the fire. Photos and video start 15 minutes into the fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Additional images and a video from the House fire in Kitchener, ON – February 5, 2020
Couple of shots from a fire in Kitchener 2/5/20. Fire started in the basement around the wood stove. Heavy smoke on arrival. We were already responding to call as PC reported heavy smoke and asked for an extra pumper. Tough fire to fight, had a walk in door to the basement on E3, but no windows. Crews went in with zero visibility and fire above their heads. Backed out right away and pulled additional lines. Fire eventually took hold of the main floor. The house is a total loss.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690 Rehab
Kitchener (ON) P12, A12, Tower 13 (using spare P19), R11, and Car 123 were dispatched to the end of Forwell Road for a possible fire, February 19, 2020, at 14:48. I was on the expressway just passing Kitchener HQ on the dispatch. I could see the smoke approximately 4.5 miles from the scene. Car 123 was just behind me and also could see the smoke once he got onto the highway and asked for an additional pumper, P14 and Tanker 17 as they were not sure how close the hydrants were to the fire.
Once on scene, P12 reported an abandoned building with heavy smoke and flames showing on the C and D side. P12 picked up a yard hydrant and laid in 500 feet of LDH. A 2.5” line was pulled for a defensive attack. Command requested A11 to the scene, and returned Tanker 17 to cover at Station 2. A12 was setup for an elevated master stream. P14 and P19 reverse laid 1,600 feet of LDH to a hydrant at the entrance to the gravel pit on Forwell Road. P19 relay pumped to A12.
The building was being decommissioned, and was being used to store rubber conveyor belts from when the pit was in operation. The fire was contained to the older section of the structure and declared out an hour into operations. Photos and video start 10 minutes after P12 arrived on scene. Box 690 provided rehab for the 20 firefighters on scene.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
