On Thursday May 15, 2003 at 2143hrs, Newcom 911 was advised by Ross/West View EMS Unit 47 that there was a smell of smoke in the area of Browns Lane. Newcom then dispatched Ross Stations 247(Berkeley Hills) and 254 (Ross Fire Police) to the area to investigate.
247 C-1(Chief Steve Reubi) arrived first with a smell of smoke in the area. 247 Engine 2 arrived on scene under the command of Lieutenant Jay Norling, who split his crew in two to investigate. Crews checked around the apartments and investigated inside 451 Browns lane for an odor of smoke. After further investigation with a thermal imaging camera on the exterior of the structures, Lt. Norling found a blackened out window on the top floor of 481 Browns Lane and confirmed a working apartment fire. At that time, 247 C-1 advised Newcom to dispatch a full 1st alarm assignment to that location.
At 2221hrs Newcom Dispatched Station 248(Perrysville), Station 149(Etna) for RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) and 510FM (Fire Marshall) to complete the full structure assignment. Newcom then advised Northwest to dispatch McCandless Station 186(Highland), and Norcom to dispatch Station 40(Ross/West View EMS). The EMS Supervisor on duty 404(Ronald Coleman) requested all available Ross Medic Units and requested mutal aid from McCandless due to the occupancy of the building.
At that time 247 C-1 (Chief Steve Reubi) assigned 247 L-4(Lt. Norling) to got to the fire floor and find the apartment while the rest of the Engine Crew was taking a 3 inch supply line and 2 high rise packs into the structure to make a fire attack. Engine 2 and 247 Squads crews were also working on hitting a close-by hydrant. 247 Truck under the command of 247 L-1 (Lieutenant Michael Murray) had just arrived on scene and was assigned to assist in search and evacuation of the rest of the building. Upon location of the fire apartment 247 L-4 (Lieutenant Norling) searched the room when he was met with heavy smoke and heat, but was able to locate a patient on the couch.
The victim was removed by crews from 247 E-2 & 247 Truck and the patient was later pronounced dead by EMS on scene. At that time the attack line had made it to the door and extinguishments began. Command sent the crew from 186 Truck 1 to 247 Truck, which was already set up and sent them to the roof. 248 Engine 3
