On the afternoon of November 6, 2014, Providence firefighters responded to Ford Street for a house fire. On arrival, Engine 8 found heavy fire on all floors and through the roof of a 2.5- story vacant house. An interior attack was initiated but crews were quickly withdrawn and defensive operations were begun. It took approximately 20 minutes for master streams to knock the heavy fire down. There were no injuries reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
At 2pm, on June 5, 2014, the Cranston, RI fire alarm office began receiving calls for a house fire on Smith Street. On arrival, Ladder 1 reported heavy smoke showing and transmitted the Code Red, working fire signal. Engine 1, normally housed with Ladder 1 was on a detail at headquarters and responded from there. The fire appeared to begin in the basement of the balloon-frame house and travelled up several bays of the exterior walls and through the roof. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within 30 minutes. Crews did rescue a turtle and what appeared to be the tank of a snake. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire wise, Rhode Island is fairly busy. We are also about an hour’s ride to Boston and GPS says exactly three hours from my house to Times Square in NYC. I go to Boston almost every week and NYC as many times as my schedule allows.
Last Thursday night, my daughter and I spent the night in Manhattan with plans to go to the Today Show concert on Friday morning. Just as we were getting into the city, a phone alarm went out for a fire on or near the 45th floor of a high rise on West 31st Street. Nothing was immediately visible but a 10-77 (signal for a working fire in a residential high-rise) was transmitted when smoke began to show. Companies found a fire in one apartment on the 45th floor of a 60-story building. The building was on the same block as the quarters of Engine 1 and Ladder 24. The fire was under control as we arrived.
8 Providence firefighters trapped by ceiling collapse
On Friday night, May 30, Providence firefighters responded to Prairie Avenue, on the city’s south side, for a house fire. On arrival, Engine 10 had heavy fire showing from all floors of a vacant 3-decker. Master streams were deployed and knocked down the heavy fire. Firefighters were then allowed inside to extinguish any remaining fire. Approximately 40 minutes into the incident, the third floor ceiling collapsed, trapping 8 members. Maydays went out and the FAST company was deployed. All of the trapped members were able to make it out on their own but they were all transported to RIH for evaluations and later released. The cause of the fire is considered suspicious.
To add to Providence, on June 1, another fire broke out on Fruit Hill Avenue, where two firefighters became disoriented on the second floor of a building and transmitted maydays. They made it to a window and were able to make it out unharmed.
Monday, my wife and I went to Boston’s North End for lunch and as we were heading home, Box 3148 was struck for the front porches of a house on Welles Street, in the Dorchester area. We were about 5 minutes from that location and Engine 18 arrived and reported fire showing. They quickly stretched a line and knocked the fire down before it could extend to the interior.
On May 9, 2014, Providence (RI) firefighters responded to 98 Laban Street for a house fire. On arrival, crews found heavy fire in the basement and first floor of an occupied 3-decker. As engine companies stretched lines, trucks began to open up and found the fire spreading through the entire building. All of the occupants were reported to have gotten out and primary searches confirmed that report. As conditions deteriorated, command ordered a second alarm and the evacuation of the building. Exterior operations were initiated and knocked the fire down. After the heavy streams were shut down, companies re-entered the building to mop up. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Shortly after 9, on the night of April 14, 2014, Providence firefighters responded to 55 Plymouth Street for a house fire. On arrival, Engine 8 found the rear of an occupied 3-decker well involved. There were reports of people trapped, so engine companies began an interior attack as members of Ladders 2,5 and the Special Hazards performed primary searches. Another period of high winds in New England is continuing and 30-40mph winds blew through the house, rapidly spreading the fire and trapping several firefighters. Two Maydays were transmitted and three alarms were sounded. All of the firefighters were able to make it out, one head first out of a window and landed in the bushes below. Two firefighters and one resident were taken to RI Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Tom Carmody photo
Tom Carmody photo
Tom Carmody photo
Tom Carmody photo
Tom Carmody photo
Tom Carmody photo
I arrived about 18 minutes into the fire. Master streams had been deployed and in two of the included photos, you can see a closed door help back thousands of gallons of water, to the point that the water was coming out of the window of the door. The weight eventually became too much and the door gave way, cascading the water into the street.
