huge flames and smoke

All posts tagged huge flames and smoke

Fall River, MA had a 3-alarm fire today and it brought back some memories of the big mill fires in Fall River and New Bedford that I witnessed while growing up in Somerset, MA (across the Taunton River South Watuppa Pond from Fall River).  Here are some scans of Kodachrome slides that my dad (Michael F. James) took of the Kerr Mill fire in January, 1987.

I remember standing near the Route 6 signs watching this fire with my dad.  I was 14.  The big mill fires tended to draw a huge crowd of onlookers from Fall River and Somerset, and of course a huge assortment of apparatus and firefighters. You’ll spot the Civil Defense Rescue 1 squad in the one shot. The flames and smoke were so bright and high that they blotted out the sky and landscape along the Taunton River behind the mill.

The mill fires were fought defensively (surround and drown) and firefighters worked hard to protect any surrounding exposures.  These fires were huge and impressive, garnered headlines in the next day’s Fall River Herald News and were the talk of the town for days after.

Best-

Trevor James

Trevor James Fire Scene Photography

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

Michael James photo

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

massive mill fire in MA

Michael James photo

John Tulipano from Chicago’s western suburbs submitted images from a fire that occurred July 4, 1991 in Maywood, IL

This fire in Maywood, IL was on July 4th, 1991. It was a vacant, 1-sty building 150×200 with a bow-string truss roof. This was the former Allstar Pontiac car dealership located at 200 Roosevelt Road.

Here is rundown

  • 10:30 Still – Maywood Eng 506, 507, Trk 502, and Broadview Eng 215

  • 10:35 Box 300 – Melrose Park Eng 707 C/Q

  • 10:40 2nd alarm  – Melrose Park Eng 707, Hillside TL403

  • 10:45 3rd alarm – Bellwood Eng 603, Westchester Trk 315

  • 13:00 struck out

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Maywood Fire Department

John Tulipano photo

Connecticut area photographer Patrick Dooley submitted this fire from yesterday, 9/11/13

Tolland, Ct had this 2nd alarm fire on 9/11/13 at 1245 hours on a very hot and humid day. The fire was at 11 White Birch Dr. This came in as smoke from the rear of the house.

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Car 40 and Car 140 arrived to report smoke showing with Car 40 quickly requesting the 2nd alarm. Mutual aid from Crystal Lake, Ellington, Bolton, Vernon, Willington, Willington Hill, Somers, Uconn, North Coventry and Columbia assisted at the scene with other departments covering stations.

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

Tolland CT house fire

Patrick Dooley photo

 

A gallery with more images can be viewed by clicking here.

Brett Mack submitted images of a 3-Alarm fire in an apartment house in Reading, PA that occurred August 4, 2008

 

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Clymer Apartments – 3 Alarms – City of Reading, PA – 8/4/08

A Box alarm was struck just before noontime for a reported kitchen fire with entrapment.  Companies arrived with heavy fire showing from the 1st floor.  Rapid fire spread and low water pressure hampered efforts.  Eventually 3 alarms were struck exhausting all city units.

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Reading Fire Department

Brett Mack photo

Click here to view a gallery with more images from this fire.

Eric Hurst submitted the following account of a 2nd Alarm fire in a commercial building in Denver on June 29, 2009.

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

At 03:30 on June 29, 2009, Denver Firefighters were dispatched to 48th Avenue & Pecos Street for multiple reports of an explosion and fire.  First arriving companies found heavy flames venting from the front windows of the DOLLAR$ CITY store.  An extra Engine & Truck were requested followed quickly by a 2nd Alarm.  A defensive strategy was used and the bowstring truss roof collapsed within 30 minutes.  Four aerial master streams and two ground monitors were used to control the fire which took 90 minutes.  There were no injuries, no damage to exposures and the fire was ruled arson.

 
Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

Denver Fire Department

Eric Hurst photo

 More can be seen HERE on Eric’s site.