Last night, Bartlett firefighters responded to Hilltop Road in unincorporated Elgin for a reported garage fire. Upon arrival, crews were met with a well-involved attached garage fire extending into the home. Due to the amount of fire, wind conditions, and lack of fire hydrants, a MABAS Box was activated to bring in additional manpower and equipment necessary to extinguish 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.
Puslinch, Ontario firefighters were toned out for a horse barn fire at 6923 Concession 1, January 4 at 23:00. The barn was one of four large barns on the property, home to 43 Standardbred race horses. The barn was fully-involved on arrival. Workers on-scene reported they couldn’t get any of the horses from the barn. More than 50 firefighters from three counties responded to the scene. Eight tankers shuttled approximately 200,000 Canadian gallons of water from two hydrants in Cambridge, approximately six miles from the scene. Box 690 provided rehab for the fire. The fire was the largest fire loss in Puslinch history. An initial damage figure is four to six million dollars. The Ontario Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.
Kitchener (Ontario) fire dispatch toned out the New Dundee Fire Department for a possible structure fire at 1330 Bleams Road on January 4 at 15:12. The New Dundee district chief could see heavy smoke from his workplace approximately five miles from the scene and requested a full turnout from the Baden Fire Department. A New Dundee firefighter arrived on-scene and reported a fully-involved barn with two serious exposures; a house 20 feet away and a large barn with an attached driving shed approximately 40 feet away. New Dundee requested New Hamburg’s tanker, rescue, and quint be added to the call.
The captain on New Dundee’s pumper reported windows on the house and barn were cracked and set up lines for a defensive attack and to protect exposures. Water was shuttled by four tankers from a hydrant approximately a mile from the scene. Firefighters saved the house and barn with minimal damage, a very good save on a very cold day. The temperature hovered around zero Fahrenheit. A backhoe was used to pull the steel siding off hot spots. Box 690 provided rehab for six hours. Hot drinks and Hot Shot hand warmers were very popular. Damage was pegged at $60,000.
June 22, 2015 14:35, Wellesley Township, Linwood, and St Clements stations were dispatched to 5903 Ament Line for a fire in the shop. Linwood reported smoke visible from the hall, and Wellesley was added to the call at this time. Linwood reported a large shop/garage fully-involved on arrival, with a large barn containing 150 head of cattle as an exposure. Two tankers were requested from neighboring Perth East station in Milverton. The fire was brought under control in an hour. A high hoe was brought in to pull the building apart. Box 690 provided rehab, serving over 100 cold drinks to the 30 firefighters and emergency personnel on scene.
A local Jacksonboro restaurant was heavily damaged in an early morning structure fire Tuesday 09-June. At 02:36, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was dispatched to Flo’s Diner when a passerby noticed flames coming from the roof of the building. The restaurant is located at 16804 ACE Basin Parkway (US Hwy. 17) at the intersection of Hope Plantation Lane. Engine 2 arrived minutes later to find heavy fire conditions in the rear of the approx. 3000 sq. ft. establishment and fire venting from the eaves on both ends of the building. A second alarm was requested shortly after arrival. Initial crews set up a drop tank for a water shuttle operation since the rural community does not have a water system. Firefighters used a deck gun and deployed one 2-1/2 inch and two 1-3/4 inch handlines to combat the fire. Engine 2 was set up on the east side of the building. Engine 6 arrived, setting up on the west side of the business. Engine 6 also set up a drop tank, then used a deck gun and deployed two 1-3/4 inch handlines. Ladder 19 was set up in the highway directly in front of the building. Power lines running in front of the building created some operational difficulties. Engine 6 supplied Ladder 19. Three lanes of ACE Basin Parkway were blocked due to the firefighting and water shuttle operations. Sheriff’s Deputies directed traffic for six hours until the roadway could be reopened.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
An initial investigation pointed to the area of an exterior HVAC unit at the rear of the business. It appeared the fire entered into the kitchen and attic space through the duct system. The business was recently remodeled. The back of the building, including the kitchen and coolers suffered heavy fire damage. The attic also suffered heavy damage. The main dining room suffered mostly smoke, water and drop down damage from the falling burning ceiling. Firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fire within 35 minutes, saving the main structure, but the interior and roof suffered extensive damage. Some important belongings, records, and computers were saved. Seven tenders shuttled water for four hours during firefighting and overhaul operations. Fire units were on the scene for 6-1/2 hours. No injuries were reported.
Engine 2, Engine 6, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 12, Tender 19, Tender 22, Tender 27, Ladder 6, Ladder 19, Squad 9, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 110 and Car 118 responded. The Commander Post was operated by Battalion Chief Scott Feather, Asst. Chief Marty Stallings and Chief McRoy.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Dauphin and Lancaster County, PA units were alerted to the house fire in Londonderry Township (Elizabethtown, PA), Box 54-2, on Saturday afternoon (12/27/14). Units arrived to find heavy fire and smoke showing from a ranch style house. A tanker task force was assembled and a fill site was established about 3/4 mile from the fire. Tankers shuttled water continuously to the scene. Once the fire was knocked, crews located the body of a 78-year old woman in the house. Fire marshals and investigators were called to the scene and determined that the cause of the fire was accidental. More about the fire can be read on the PennLive Web site:
Here are a selection of photos from my friend Dale Feehrer of Feehrer Apparatus Photos (https://www.facebook.com/dale.feehrer.9) and myself. I happened to be visiting family in Hershey, PA when this box was toned out.
