Last posts for now

A few shots from a second alarm that my department assisted on. Working fire in a grain tower. I hope to get more active with posts again soon. Just had alot of stuff going on..

and some more yet

Some shots of a boat fire that my department assisted on. First arriving Chief arrived with a well involved speedboat, toyota pickup truck and smoke showing from a 2 story garage

More stuff

On September 10th, Lafayette Fire Company was dispatched for a reported building fire at the Historic Conestoga Inn Restaurant. Units arrived with a working fire in the duct work and some in the roof. This call is somewhat bittersweet as one of my long time friends passed away in the line of duty 15 days later while conducting a live burn

Some more stuff

On October 31st, my department was dispatched to assist Blue Rock Fire/Rescue on a gas leak. About 90 minutes into it, an explosion destroyed a house and what was the former John Herrs Market in Millersville.

Parade and a Job..

Hey all,

This past Saturday I took my son to the annual Harrisburg Irish Day Parade in the Capital City. Weather was a little chilly, but overall it was nice.

                                       One of the bagpipers warming up

                                              Past and future

                                        Drummers

The premire truck company in Harrisburg, being driven by none other then Brad Myers Of Brad Myers Photography

Later on that evening, I talked to Brad and I came up to the station and visited with him and Brian Bastinell(Of Brian Bastinelli photography) We were sitting in the kitchen talking when we found out about a large fire in Reading PA in a warehouse. Did not think too much of it, was on my way home when a friend called me and told me he was heading up to get photos and he had a friend on the scene still confirming heavy fire. So I decided to go up and this is what I saw..

A 51,000 square foot 3 story vacant furniture warehouse, well off with 2 homes that were attached to it also burned

Reading Engine 3 on a Hydrant down 2nd Street with the fire building in the background

                                      Top of the warehouse  

                                    Tower Ladder from Reading Flowing water onto the fire

Few more shots of the fire. Folks, I know times are tough but this is another example of why you do not lay off firemen. Reading's staffing is 2 per rig and thats it. The initial alarm brought 10-12 guys to the scene, 12 guys for a Fully Involved 51,000 square foot building. The FD did a damn good job in keeping the fire from taking anymore homes and possibly, even the block. Yes, Reading did call in outside help but regardless, Firemen should not be laid off. Period..

Off my soapbox now...

Have a great day!
                    

Jan 20th 2011, 20:53 hours

Hey Everyone,

On this date, The Lancaster Bureau Of Fire was dispatched for a reported building on fire in the 300 block of N Queen Street, in the downtown section of Lancaster City. Units arrived with a working fire with heavy smoke pushing out the front of the building. The building was the Zap Company. A company that sold vintage clothes(Brad Myers bought some of his clothes here) just kidding pal. The company also supplied clothes to the show "That 70's show" and also to the movie "Titantic" My company was dispatched on the general alarm with our ladder truck. I arrived on scene about 45 mins into the incident as I waited for my wife to get home to be with our son

This is looking S on Queen Street From Lemon Street. The engine is Lancaster City Reserve Engine 6 laying a supply line to Lafayette Fire Company Truck 6-3 in the front of the building.

This is Truck 6-3 and the other ladder truck is Lancaster City Truck 6-4-2. At the height of the fire,  3 Tower Ladders a 1 straight stick ladder truck were flowing water onto the fire. A total of 7 trucks were on the scene

A FF from Lancaster City flowing a deck gun into the front of the building. At this point, a good friend of mine who is a Lancaster City Police Officer who was working, saw me and told me to "Walk up Walnut Street to where you see Engine 5 in the alleyway and turn left, Trust me" So I did...

And this is what I was greeted with. Now this is only midblock of the building.

This is the back side of the building on Christian Street. The building was a very long and narrow block long. There was not alot of room to get rigs back in here.

Back out on the Queen Street side again. The engine is Lancaster City Engine 3.

                                               Manpower staging by the city command van

 Lancaster Battalion Chief 2 at the Command Post

 Truck 6-4-2 operating on the Queen Street side

 Lancaster City Crews working

One of my favorite shots.

Willow Street Truck 5-12 setting up in a night clubs parking lot. They are about 3-4 buildings N of the fire building

Smoke is getting heavier as is the fire

Strasburg Fire Company Truck 5-10 backing down Christian Street from Lemon Street

The fire has reached the back of the building

Crews on the roof of the exposure building checking that for any extension or failure of the fire wall

Things are starting to get rather ugly back here.

At this point, City Engine 2 which was back here on Christian Street suffered as what can be described as a cathostrophic mechanical failure. Engine 2's muffler intake and air intake took a direct hit from a master stream device which compleatley shut down the engine. The deck gun which is flowing is only being supplied by hydrant pressure and that's it.

 Truck 5-10 flowing water into the fire building

 Crews operating on the Christian Street Side while waiting for water supply to be reestablished

 Crews getting off the roof of the exposure building

 Fire showing from the roof again out front

 Let's just say this officer did not leave for awhile

And on top of it, it started to snow. In the 21 years I have been in the fire service. I cannot ever a recall a fire of such magnitude in the city. For what they had when they arrived, they did a hell of a job keeping it to the main fire building. The city only had 9 firefighters on duty that night including the shift commander. They had there hands full untill the arrival of the county rigs and also off duty members coming in on the recall. My department cleared around 1230 AM the next morning. City units remained on the scene all night and well into the next day.

That is all. I hope you liked the pics. Thanks for visiting!