In the early winter of 2003, my fire company responded to a multiple alarm building fire, mutual aid. Shortly after entering the building with rest of my crew, we relieved a team in the room where we thought the fire started. The previous team failed to tell us that the fire had … [Read more...]
HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE AND DECIDED…….. THAT WAS A BAD IDEA!!!……”
Dear FFCC.com:I was the Incident Commander and these two firefighters did an outstanding job in not only rescuing the victim, but keeping their composure when all went bad. They we able to rescue the victim and themselves just prior to the 1st floor lighting off. The victim was … [Read more...]
WAREHOUSE FIRE – IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS TOO!
In February 2004, our engine company responded to carpet warehouse on fire. Upon arrival our crew experienced a fully involved carpet warehouse fire. E-1 crew pulled a 2.5" pre-connect line in the front bay door of the warehouse. My officer was donning his mask and I was flaking … [Read more...]
WHY NOT PACK-UP?
While not as serious as others, it still could have sent me to the hospital with burns. Last December, my department had a relatively large fire in a 2 story residential that had started to run away. The fire was contained to the second floor by the initial fire company who … [Read more...]
“FIREMEN AND POLICE – COME IN AND DIE !!!”
At approximately 0400 hrs. E6, Q6, E2, E1 and Battalion 3 were dispatched to a reported house fire. Upon arrival, we saw that a single bay detached garage was fully involved. After stretching lines to the adjacent backyard, Aerial Operator Eddie S. and I were assigned to do a … [Read more...]
ELECTRICITY + FIREFIGHTING = DANGER
This was not my personal incident, but I was standing 3 feet away when it happened. With the recent electrocutions in Philly, I thought it was appropriate. We were operating on a fully involved attached garage fire an a 30 X 60 one story wood frame "ranch" dwelling with fire … [Read more...]
WIRE WARNING!
My company was dispatched to a working fire in a 1.5 story single family dwelling. On arrival heavy smoke was pouring from the second story windows on the B and D sides, however, the windows were still intact. The captain and one firefighter entered the house, immediately did a … [Read more...]
JUST FOLLOW THE SOP’S!
Dear Firefighter Close Calls,Our department responded to smoke in a residential structure. Upon the first unit arriving, they found nothing visible. They pulled a dry line and went in with a TIC and during that, the 70 year old owner was trying to get her 90 year old mother out … [Read more...]
THE EQUIVALANT OF A DYNAMITE EXPLOSION…
We got were dispatched for a barn fire around 17:00hrs. On arrival we had heavy smoke pushing from second floor windows and decent smoke on the first floor, we named a defensive strategy. The OIC of our Wagon had the FFs stretch a 2.5 inch line and attack the fire defensively … [Read more...]