Took this in around 2230 Tuesday night at 2258 S. Blue Island Avenue in Chicago. It sounded promising. A metal clad warehouse butted up against another building. Interesting that the size-up was no exposure problem yet it seemed obvious that there was a high potential, in fact they reported some fire in the adjoining building on fireground. TL 5 with the new rig as well as 28 with a new pumper and I guess what must be a spare command van. More photos at Chicagoareafire.com
Steve Redick
On 3/15/2019, Boston Fire Alarm struck a box for a reported fire on the roof of a large building at the northeast side of the city. Companies initially had fire in an HVAC-type unit but quickly discovered the fire had spread along the roof line and above the sprinkler system. A trench cut was attempted to stop the spread but was unsuccessful.
Due to the size of the building, which was home to the New England Casket Company, accessibility problems, and water supply issues, a second and third alarm were struck within 30 minutes. Companies fought defensively and on air due to the various solvents housed in the building.
As the fire progressed, BFD Commissioner Joe Finn assumed command and struck additional alarms and special calls, including the city’s second tower ladder to respond out of district. As conditions worsened and smoke spread throughout the area, the decision was made to shut down the MBTA Blue Line, which ran near the fire building, and utilize the reverse-911 system to evacuate the Orient Heights neighborhood.
Companies initiated foam operations and dealt with a significant ember problem; additional engine companies were assigned to the neighborhood to minimize exposure damage. In all, nine alarms were struck with multiple special calls. By 11pm some units were released, but the department remained on scene throughout the night chasing hot spots. The building was a total loss.
Sean Fesko/FDNH911
More photos HERE
Cambridge (ON) fire dispatch received a 9-1-1 call for fire in a large industrial complex February 22, 2019 at 19:25. A3, P1, A6, P2, R1, and Car 6 were dispatched on the first alarm. A3 arrived on scene reporting light smoke showing from a middle unit of a 225 x 60’ industrial building. The fire had a good hold of the roof. The roof was steel on top and bottom and had multiple layers of asphalt from repairs and new roofs added to the building over the years.
Both aerials and multiple hand lines were pulled to attack the fire as firefighters did what they could to peel the roofing off to get at the fire. The roof was buckling, so no firefighters were allowed near the seat of the fire. Trench cuts were made to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent units. This was a very stubborn fire. Overtime crews were called in to staff spare apparatus. All six stations and the overtime crews were rotated to the scene to fight the fire. The fire was not declared out until 8:25 the following morning after a lot of hard word. Box 690 provided rehab at the fire. Photos and video taken two hours into the fire.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Kitchener (ON) Fire dispatch toned out Floradale for a possible fire at 7098 Side Road 5 in Wellington County February 26, 2019, at 8:26. Floradale (Waterloo County) covers this area on contract for first response. A Floradale captain who lives less than a mile from the fire was on scene before any trucks left the hall. He reported a thermal column on approach and asked for a pumper and tanker from Elmira, and a tanker from St Jacobs. Half a minute later he confirmed they had a wood shop fully involved with two exposures.
Centre Wellington’s other station in Fergus was dispatched once the new report was relayed to responding firefighters. Water was shuttled from a pond located at a business just up the road from the fire. Five tankers were used in the relay. Numerous small and large lines were pulled to fight the fire enabling firefighters to protect the exposures.
The pond was drained after two hours of use, so Elmira’s pumper set up at a hydrant in Elmira to fill trucks. The hydrant on the north end of town was approximately five miles from the scene. Woolwich firefighters cleared the scene just before noon, Centre Wellington remained on scene until 14:00.
A high hoe was brought in to pull the building down to get at hot spots. Box 690 provided rehab to the 40 firefighters on scene. Photos and video taken 40 minutes into the call.
Gary Dinkel, Box 690
Units on scene
Woolwich Township
Floradale Pumper, tanker (3,000 US gallons), rescue
Elmira Pumper, tanker (2,500 US gallons), crew stayed at station to staff rescue and 95’ quint
St Jacobs Tanker (3,000 US gallons)
Box 690 stationed in Kitchener at Station 5
Centre Wellington
Elora Pumper, Tanker (3,000 US gallons), 75’ quint
Fergus Pumper, tanker (3,000 US gallons) rescue
Sunday (2/25) was an intensely windy day in the Chicago area which made for difficult firefighting conditions. The second 2-11 alarm for Chicago on this day was at 88th Street and Commercial Avenue and started in a pizza parlor that had occupied that address since the 1950’s. The fire was reported to have started in the rear of the structure and heavy winds blowing across from the west quickly escalated the incident. Eric Haak
more photos at Chicagoareafire.com
