Figuring it was one particular store we've been going to almost daily for a malfunctioning pullstation, I 'harumphed' and pulled out the pager.
It read: TANGENT ST - COWCHIP RD; 47-21; NAT: FBN-BUILDING FIRE - NON COMMERCIAL; TRUCKS: 18E, 18E1, 14SD, 18L, 12SD; NOTES: BASEMENT FIRE, FLAMES AND SMOKE FROM BASEMENT; UNK IF ANYONE IN HOUSE - FDMT ALL CALL (details obviously changed)
Getting in the car and driving to the station, I reflected on the fact that I've been here going on 2 years and this is only the third job that I've run on. The first was fan inside a manufacturing facility. I was the backup on this call. The second was during the the past holiday season where a heater triggered a fire in a garage attached to a residence. For this one, I helped on the fireground as it was knocked down as my truck arrived.
As the Ladder arrived, Engine 18-1 was already there and stretching lines into the house as they're based nearby in the north end of town. The smell of smoke was pervasive and you could see smoke pouring out of the front door. The house was a typical suburban ranch house.
The officer of the Ladder ordered Joe S. and myself to search the main floor for any possible victims.
We conducted a primary search of the rooms up front in the house mostly standing up because the temperatures on the main floor weren't high and visibility was signifcantly reduced but you could see the floor.
However, when you got to the back of the house, the visibility dropped quite a bit and we basically went closer to the ground. In the kitchen, I was thrown by a breakfast nook that looked like a set of stairs. Knowing it was a ranch house, I knew it couldn't be stairs but after I took a step back and realized that it was a seat made me realize the importance of getting the big picture instead of focusing of just the image outside the airmask.
Continuing along, we searched the rest of the house and found nothing. Exited the building for fresh air and change the cylinders for the SCBAs.
Turned out the fire knocked itself out. The fire melted a support for a water pipe which caused the pipe to bend and snap, creating an accidental sprinkler.
After the fire was out, we assisted with overhaul and cleanup. There was some fire spread into the walls in the first floor which meant a lot of drywall was ripped out on the first floor in the vicinity of the fire room.
Ladder 18 was on scene until approximately 1am providing support for fire marshal investigation.
Some important lessons from this:
- Always look at the big picture AND the small picture.
- Discuss evolutions with your partner immediately after the incident (during rehab or bottle changes) . Work out any issues and recognize good work at that time.
- I had to remind my partners to use hand gestures as they get caught up in the moment and forgot.
All in all, it was good work.
