chief fire officer surveys fire scene

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Nate Arnold from Massachusetts submitted a fire from this past week.

Hadley, Mass. The volunteers of this small Hampshire County farming town were called out shortly before 8:00 p.m. on Sunday October 27, 2013 for the report of a fire at the strip mall located at 206 Russell Street. Members arrived on-scene to find an occupied two-story, wood frame construction, commercial building with smoke showing and an orange glow visible at the roof line. Hadley fire fighters along with mutual aid companies from Amherst and Northampton Fire Departments initially attempted an interior attack on the fire, but were forced to switch to a defensive attack when the fire took possession of the cockloft and extended throughout the building. By the end of the incident, a total of 4 alarms were struck bringing over 60 fire fighters to the scene throughout the night and into the following day for defensive operations. The building is a total loss, displacing 15 businesses and residents of two apartments.

Nate Arnold

photos of big fire in Hadley MA 10-27-13

Nate Arnold photo

photos of big fire in Hadley MA 10-27-13

Nate Arnold photo

photos of big fire in Hadley MA 10-27-13

Nate Arnold photo

Gallery link

East Hartford, Ct had this 3rd alarm at 118 Main St on 10/26/13 just before 1400 hours. One occupant was removed from the attic apartment just before it lit up. Mutual aid from Glastonbury  and Manchester assisted at the scene with Hartford covering station

Stay safe,

Patrick Dooley

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

3-alarm fire in East Hartford CT

Patrick Dooley photo

More pictures at www.squadfirephotos.com

Another Chicago FD submission from the files of Eric Haak.

The following photos occurred on a very hot afternoon in early July, 2011.  Companies found heavy fire in the rear of a Chicago bungalow near the intersection of Homan & Augusta on Chicago’s West Side. First due companies upgraded the alarm to a Still & Box as the fire had spread to the occupied exposure to the north prior to their arrival.

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

As usual, this fire was knocked quickly and the initial companies prevented serious damage to the exposure with an aggressive attack.

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

 I am not sure but I believe that this last photo is of Kevin Casey, who appeared in the movie Backdraft.  Any help confirming this would be greatly appreciated.

Chicago Fire Department house fire

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak submitted a snowy winter fire from January of 2008.

This fire occurred in late January, 2008 in Harvey, Illinois, a south suburb of Chicago.  There was a driving lake effect snow storm that evening which produced very thick, heavy snow flakes. For those who are not from Chicago, we regularly get snow that comes in off Lake Michigan when the atmosphere is right. When this happens it often creates blizzard-like conditions.

Harvey Fire Department fatal house fire

Eric Haak photo

Similar to Gary, Indiana or Detroit, Michigan, the suburb of Harvey has seen it’s better days and today shows all of the signs of the blight created when the economic engines of the past have long moved on. The department runs out of 4 stations and has 57 career members.

Harvey Fire Department fatal house fire

Eric Haak photo

Harvey Fire Department fatal house fire

Eric Haak photo

On this particular evening, the Harvey Fire Department came across water issues when they arrived on the scene.  When I arrived, the fire had already consumed most of the 1.5-story frame and the attention had turned to protecting the exposures.  Unfortunately, this incident resulted in one fatality.

Harvey Fire Department fatal house fire

Eric Haak photo

Harvey Fire Department fatal house fire

Eric Haak photo

Tim Olk submitted these images from a 2-Alarm house fire handled by the Lyons FIre Department in Burlington, Racine County, WI on October 4th.

The fire was reported to the Lyons Fire Department around midnight Saturday morning. Apparently one resident and one firefighter suffered minor injuries. Mutual aid included units from 13 area departments.

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Lyons Fire Department house fire Wisconsin

Tim Olk photo

Tim has a gallery with more images from this scene.

Another submission from Eric Haak

Thought I would share some photos from Chicago’s south suburbs. This incident occurred in November, 2011 on a Sunday afternoon in the town of Dolton, Illinois. The residents were at church at the time. The address of the fire building is only a block from Dolton’s station 1 and despite the close poximity, Dolton companies reported the Chicago bungalow to be heavily involved on arrival.

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

The fire appeared to have started in a wood frame porch at the rear of the building and spread throughout the first floor before companies could get water on it.  Due to the heavy volume of fire and concerns over the stability of the building, companies withdrew from the building shortly after an initial interior attack.

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

The fire eventually broke through the attic and South Holland’s 2010 Pierce Velocity tower ladder was put into use.

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo

Dolton FIre Department fights house fire

Eric Haak photo