Structure Fire March 20, 2010
On
March 20,
2010
at
6:49 PM,
the Borough of Ringwood Police Department dispatch desk
transmitted “an activated alarm” at
91 Millers
Lane
to the Ringwood Volunteer Fire Co. 1. The first arriving
police officer at the scene reported a working structure
fire and following mutual aid procedure the dispatch desk
transmitted a second page alarm to the Skyline Lakes Fire
Department and to the Erskine Lakes Fire Department.
Based on the police
officer’s on-air report of heavy fire and smoke showing,
RVFVC1 Chief, Bart Lidsky, then en route, called for a
second alarm, activating all Ringwood units and a fast team
from the Tuxedo, NY fire department. As per procedure, Chief
Lidsky also called for a tanker task force from West Milford
Fire Companies 3 and 4 and from the Tuxedo department. In
addition to the tanker task force, headquarters coverage was
requested. Over the air reports revealed that all occupants
were out of the building.
Upon
arrival, Chief Lidsky established Command and noted that the 1 ½
story older standard wood frame dwelling with full basement was
showing heavy fire at the “C” exposure as well as the “C” side
of the roof. Command assigned RVFC1 Assistant Chief Ken Diaz to
interior operations and Erskine Lakes Fire Company Chief Rich
Clarke to the exterior.
RVFC1’s Engine 261 was the first to arrive and set up as
the attack apparatus in the front of the building. Attack was
immediately undertaken using two 1 ¾ pre-connected hose lines.
RVFC1’S Tanker 263 was positioned to supply Engine 261 with
water. RVFC1’s tanker/ pumper 262 and the mutual aid tankers
were ordered to the scene to provide a tanker shuttle if such
became necessary. Also responding was Erskine Lakes Engines 241
and 243, and Rescue 242, Skyline Lakes Engines 251 and 252, and
Rescue 253, and Tuxedo’s ladder 575. RVFC1’s Squad1 and two
ambulances from Ringwood’s Ambulance Corp also responded to the
scene.
The
F.A.S.T.
team was put in place and an
aggressive
interior attack combined with a primary search was put into
operation. The initial attack team entered through the front
door on the “A” exposure, as the fire had already self-vented
through the “C” exposure. Attack crews found heavy fire in the
kitchen and living room as well as the back deck. After the
first floor fire was placed under control, inspection of the two
bedrooms on that floor and of the basement area showed minimal
fire involvement but with heavy heat and smoke effects.
Interior
attack crews achieved access to the attic area via the removal
of ceiling materials. Smoke and heat reduction was accomplished
via roof ventilation. Upon access and venting, the interior
crews extinguished the remaining attic and roof fire.
The fast and efficient
initial attack resulted in only 1000 gallons from Engine 261 and
2500 gallons from Tanker 263, being used for extinguishment. One
hand line from Erskine Lakes Fire Company’s Engine 241, the
second arriving engine, was used to put out a small brush fire
that had extended from the structure.
Command
declared the scene “under control” at
7:49 PM
and all apparatus except for Engine 261 and Squad1 were released
from the scene. Engine 261 and Squad 1 and their crews remained
at the scene through the investigation to provide lighting,
tools and a back-up hose line as a safety measure.
At
approximately
12:30 AM,
the building was secured by the Ringwood Police Department and
at that time all units cleared the scene. Station coverage was
provided by the
West Milford
and Wanaque Fire Companies.
Photos 1-5 Courtesy of Debra Turturro
