Senor Panchos fire

[xlonghillfd]

I heard through the grapevine that Senor Panchos in Monroe is on fire as Im writing this thread. Does anyone know anything about the fire?

[stealth]

XLHFD,Just saw a quick peice on the news. They showed Stepney's Tower w/smoke coming thru the roof. Looks like no Nachos for a while.

[DanTCFD]

(Monroe-WTNH, Feb. 20, 2003 10:00 PM) _ Flames tear through a popular Monroe restaurant, disrupting almost the entire downtown area.

Fire broke out at Senor Panchos in Monroe late this afternoon forcing customers and workers to get out.

Watch the story with News Channel 8's Jodi Latina
The fire also shut down a portion of Main Street causing chaos and traffic problems for hours.

The fire started just before the dinner rush, and at 10 p.m. firefighters were still on the scene trying to put it out.

"It's heartbreaking, it is really heartbreaking to see all this hard work and effort. And this restaurant is loved by so many people in Monroe."

Senor Panchos at the border of Route 25 in Monroe is no more.

"We saw the smoke coming out of the dining room window and we saw that, the firemen they were complaining and it was all gone," says Annie Admes.

She owns the popular Mexican restaurant and was inside when the fire ignited. Hours after the wait staff escaped, the fire was still ablaze.

"A lot of hidden voids, a number of ceilings inside and by the time that we made headway on it it already gained access to the attic space," says Chief Chris Doyle.

At that point crews pulled out and the flames took over. It is still unclear how the fire started.

"There wasn't anything on in the kitchen for a matter of fact. The guys kept saying there was smoke coming out of the barn," says Admes.

"It breaks my heart to see it just go down like this, in just three hours, you know. I wish they could have safe it."

This family owned Cantina was one of three in Connecticut. A business that customers would like to see survive.

"Margaritas are very good," says Bo Perini.
Jodi Latina:"They won't be doing those for a while."
Perini:"Not for a while. From the looks of it, they will be needing a new building too."

"As long as everybody is safe and nothing happened, we can rebuild," says Admes.

[DanTCFD]

After talking to some guys at TCFD, some questions were raised as to who should have performed RIT. Not bashing anyone on scene, or any commanders, just wondering. From what I heard, people believe that because Long Hill sent M/A for the actual fire (204 drowning it), Trumbull Center should have been called as RIT so that Long Hill was not sending too much manpower from their district.
Just wondering if you guys agree/disagree, I want to hear your thoughts...

[xlonghillfd]

Me being a total outsider on this (but having knowledge of the operations of the area), it probably could be up in the air as to who RIT could have been. Long Hill SOGs state that if 204 is called out of district, it will be accompanied by a Long Hill Engine (it might be 202 but that was written before the 2 new Marions were there). So even if Monroe just called for 204, they wouldve gotten 204 and 206 anyways. But then again, 204 is Long Hills RIT truck, so if it was called on to do something else besides be RIT, then was 206 equipped to handle the RIT task? Im sure they could have taken RIT equipment of the ladder, but who knows if 204 was going to need that equip... i never got a chance to see what Long Hill had done as far as RIT. We were still in the growth phase when I left.

Also from what I hear, RIT wasnt much of a factor since there wasnt much interior firefighting.

[xlonghillfd]

204 is Longhills main RIT with Rescue 200 as the backup. I always thought it should be 202 but It was Operations decision.

[DanTCFD]

204 is Longhills main RIT with Rescue 200 as the backup.

Because of that, shouldn't 104 have been dispatched as RIT since Longhill's RIT truck was being used to fight the fire? Just wondering, definitely not bashing anyone. thanks for the responses so far guys.
~DAN

[xlonghillfd]

Originally posted by drkblram
The better question should be, should 101 have been sent to standby LH station 1 or 2? [/B]

I dont think thats necessary. Long Hill definetely has the trucks and manpower to be ok even with those 2 trucks out. Station 1 still has rescue 200 and maybe 201 (havent been in sta. 1 since July). Station 2 still has 205 and 203. If anything, they would M/A out 104 if it was needed at a call. But the stations still wouldve been able to function.

I also agree with what else u said drkblam... the truck doesnt make the RIT, its the tools and the crew.. if the stick was needed for operations, what does the rest of the crew do... they couldve still been RIT with all the tools off the truck.

[DanTCFD]

you guys are right, but I thank you for the reponses and I am glad we got in the discussion because I definitely learned some stuff.
All in all it's too bad the restaurant burned, it was liked by many, just hope they rebuild it.

[xlonghillfd]

I'll miss their fish tacos...

[xlonghillfd]

I remember that... JP said that it was Long Hills RIT truck, then he showed 109 and said that was TCs RIT truck...

[3satellite]

First off 204 is the RIT truck because we carry alot more equipment on that truck to do alot more things than any other truck in our dept. After that 200 becomes our Rit back up wich i dont agree with because we shouldn' take up our rescue to sit on a scene and watch a fire it should be 202. 202 has all the equipment and then some that 200 has except a full equipment of hurst equipment. Its alot easier to replace an engine than a rescue. Xlonghill you still large and in charge? haha just messing with you. It's been pretty quiet from the tc boys lately. 203 is off the air in quarters at station 2

[TCFD4TRUCK]

under new dispatch policy's if lh goes for m/a then tc goes for rit-- but the ic at the fire told lh4 he wanted lh ladder thats why 204 went

[TCFD4TRUCK]

the normal policy is if any town calls for m/a and rit the closest district goes m/a and the next district would be rit. at the senor panchos fire 206 went for m/a if just any rit was called the policy says tc goes. its just like our in town policy. the reason 204 went was becuz the ic in monroe wanted lh ladder

[DanTCFD]

Now I am going to ask.
What special equipment does an RIT truck that a regular truck does not have?
lol Eckertt has come to back me up.

[TCFD4TRUCK]

104 is rit for us rite now-- 204 would have never of went becuz it was dispatched for rit--not firefighting so there would still be 2 ladders in town

[xlonghillfd]

All of that equipment including the partner saw is on 204,202, and 200. Im not totally positive, maybe greg will back me up on it, but Longhill bought special rope bags for RIT. That is the only thing that I can think of thats on 204 thats not on 200 and 202.

[DanTCFD]

On 103 and 102 (and I am sure on 104 too) is our RIT rope. It is 200 ft I believe, and has a double knot every 20 feet.
Two questions:
What does TIC stand for?
and
Which saw is the partner saw?

[DanTCFD]

As for now, I guess that rope bag is considered our RIT bag until we get these new ones you are talking about, because I was told right now they dont come off the truck except for RIT and do not get used in a fire except for RIT. They said if you need a rope use another one!
I like the diet sprite cans!!
Right now 102 and 103 would be better suited considering the TIC has been taken off of 104 and there is one on 102 and one on 103.
However, I do not believe 102 and 103 have rotary saws, just big ol' chain saws.

[TCFD12]

Originally posted by drkblram
and I believe TC's diet sprite cans, er, I mean 102 and 103 (altough I could be wrong about them).

Hey! Watch your step probie! The "diet sprite" cans as you call them are certainly just as equiped to do RIT as 104, with the exception of the saws. Hope to get some upgraded saws this budget year.

Hey at least our first out engine isn't 20 years old!! LOL!!