fire at a Mennonite Wood Business

All posts tagged fire at a Mennonite Wood Business

Woolwich Township firefighters were dispatched to a wood pile on fire at 922 Katherine Street North, July 22 at 19:32. Kitchener Fire dispatch toned out a full response for Maryhill and Conestogo plus Elmira’s tanker. Conestogo reported smoke showing from their hall six miles from the scene.

Finished lumber, railway ties, and poles were well involved on arrival at the Mennonite sawmill. Maryhill and Conestogo pumpers set up port-a-tanks, with multiple 2.5” and 1.5” lines pulled from both trucks. Water was shuttled from a reservoir 1.5 miles from the scene.

Command requested Elmira’s pumper to respond to the reservoir to fill tankers and Floradale’s tanker to the scene. Shortly after command requested a full response from Floradale for manpower. Floradale was diverted to a second structure fire a couple of miles from the lumber fire but was released as they arrived at the scene. A portable pump was set up at a pond approximately 700 feet from the fire, supplying water for two 1.5” lines. The fire was declared out at 23:00. Box 690 provided rehab, serving 220 cold drinks, and lots of freezies to the 40 firefighters on scene.

Gary Dinkel

Box 690

fire engine drafting from portable tanks

Gary Dinkel photo

fire at Mennonite saw mill

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

lumber fire in Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

firefighters at rural fire scene

Gary Dinkel photo

portable fire pump drafting from pond

Gary Dinkel photo

July 17, 2012, 2936 Arthur St North, just north of Elmira Ontario Canada. Box 690 members were at Station 5 in Kitchener restocking supplies from a call in Petersburg when Floradale, Elmira, Conestogo, and St Jacobs were toned out for a wood shop fire at 10:20 am. Floradale firefighters reported heavy smoke showing from their hall. This was the hottest day ever on this date (118 F). The building was fully involved on arrival. The fire had spread to two 54’ trailers that contained wood, and piles of lumber on the E4 side of the building, and a large storage shed full of wood to the rear of the structure. More than 60 firefighters were on-scene battling the fire and the heat of the day. Water was shuttled by three tankers from a large pond located adjacent to the fire, to the St Jacobs pumper that set up on Arthur St. Elmira’s P1 set up to draft at the pond, and a 4” supply line was hand laid from the pond, 1,400’ to the Floradale pumper.

 The fire was at a Mennonite Wood Business, damage was over $1,000,000.

Box 690 responded initially with three members. We were very fortunate to have the assistance of the Floradale Ladies Auxiliary at this fire. Box 690 was on scene for eight hours and served 1,278 food and drink items on that day. This was by far the largest call in terms of product served that we have had in our 25 years of service.

 Photos by

Gary Dinkel

Box 690

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Rear of structure, Elmira’s quint was used to extinguish the fire in the Cyclone. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

shows the section of the large shed that firefighters saved. Note the there is only a pile left at the far end of the photo. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Floradale pumper, Mennonite buggy, old meets new. Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo

Fire on extremely hot day in Woolwich Township Ontario

Gary Dinkel photo