On 3/26/2020, Weymouth Fire Alarm (Massachusetts) dispatched companies to a reported building fire at the old Weymouth Naval Air Station. Upon arrival, companies had heavy fire showing from multiple buildings in what were the barracks. Multiple defensive lines were run and two ladder pipes were put into operation. Eventually a second alarm was struck, bringing mutual aid from Quincy, Braintree, and Hingham to the scene.
video by Jim McCall
Three Alarms in Boston’s Dorchester Neighborhood
On 3/5/2020, Boston Fire Alarm dispatched companies to a reported fire on Stonehurst Street in the Dorchester neighborhood. First-due companies had heavy fire on the second and third floors, and a second alarm was called about five minutes later. A third alarm was eventually struck. At one point a mayday was declared for a missing member but he was quickly found and self-extricated from the building.
Sunday March 1 was a very busy morning for Wilmot Ontario firefighters. Personnel from all three stations were taking an ice water rescue course across from the Baden fire hall. Kitchener fire dispatch toned out New Hamburg station for a MVC at Highway 7&8 and Nafziger Road around 10:50. New Hamburg responded with a heavy rescue, pumper, tanker, and 75’ quint.
At 11:10 Baden and New Dundee were dispatched to a structure fire at 126 Front Street in New Dundee. The address is half a block up the street from the fire hall. New Dundee came on the air and confirmed a firefighter reported the house had fire showing on the main floor of a large, two-story, century old home. A New Dundee pumper arrived within minutes and confirmed a working fire. Dispatch was asked to check with New Hamburg command to see if they could send their aerial and tanker as water supply for fires is provided by tankers filling from a dam two blocks from the scene. The accident was minor in nature and both trucks were released to assist New Dundee.
Dispatch advised they had a second structure fire in a large driving shed on Bethel Road approximately five miles from New Dundee. The New Hamburg tanker and rescue responded to the second fire, and mutual aid was requested from Ayr with a pumper, two tankers, and their chief. New Hamburg arrived and reported a tractor had been on fire in the driving shed, but quick action by the owner pushing the tractor out of the building with averted a potential structure fire. Ayr was returned before arriving and New Hamburg’s tanker was rerouted back to New Dundee.
The New Dundee fire appeared to have started in the kitchen while the tenants were away. The fire was knocked down quickly and a number of pets were brought out and resuscitated. Crews had hours of overhaul on their hands. The fire worked its way up the wall necessitating pulling all the walls down on the E4 side of the building up to the attic. The fire was not declared out until approximately 13:30. New Dundee P22 set up at the dam to fill tankers. Box 690 provided rehab. Photos taken 25 minutes into the incident, just after fire under control was broadcast.
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
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
