New York, NY, Oct. 27, 2016—FDNY crews responded to a heavily involved five-story tenement on the Upper East Side with people trapped. Lines were stretched as members searched all floors. An 81-year-old occupant was observed in a fifth-floor window with no means of escape. A firefighter from Rescue 1 was lowered via rope from the roof to the man, and they were brought to the ground. The rope began to burn shortly after they were at ground level. Conditions continued to deteriorate and all members were ultimately withdrawn from the fire building. Flames extended to both exposures, but members were able to open up and keep fire damage to a minimum. Seven firefighters received minor injuries in the six-alarm blaze.
Photo by Bill Tompkins
Fitchburg, MA, Sept. 26, 2016—Fitchburg firefighters battled a four-alarm fire that heavily damaged the vacant B.F. Brown School. It took 65 firefighters using seven engines and five ladders approximately four hours to bring the blaze under control. Mutual aid came from Leominster, Lunenburg, Shirley, Ashburnham, Devens, Ashby and Ayer, and Med-Star Ambulance had three ambulances on scene. One Leominster firefighter was injured fighting the blaze, which was later determined to be the result of arson.
Photo by Scott LaPrade
Grapevine, CA, Oct. 20, 2017—Multiple large semi trucks were involved in an accident and burst into flames, prompting the closure of southbound Interstate 5. Los Angeles County and Kern County firefighters worked the incident for two hours.
Photo by Jeff Zimmerman
