Coon Rapids Fire Department
Chief Timothy E. Farmer
Personnel: 31 career firefighters, 20 paid-on call firefighters
Apparatus: Three engines, one ladder, three midi-pumpers (EMS), one tactical support vehicle, two grass rigs, one tanker, four staff vehicles
Population: 63,000
Area: 26 square miles
At 3:10 A.M. on June 29, 1996, the Coon Rapids, MN, Fire Department received six calls of decks and balconies burning at the Bane-berry Apartments. The fire, which caused $1.75 million in damage to the six-building complex, was ruled arson and is still under investigation. The damaged units remain unoccupied.
Photo courtesy of Coon Rapids Fire Department All of the city's paid-on-call and off-duty career firefighters were called to the early-morning fire.
Coon Rapids is a northern suburb of Minneapolis along the Mississippi River. The city has a growing commercial, industrial and retail base to complement its diverse residential neighborhoods. The three fire stations are staffed 24 hours a day by career firefighters who are assisted by paid-on-call firefighters at major incidents. The fire department is dispatched by Anoka County Central Communications, which has four to seven dispatchers on duty at all times.
The three-story apartment buildings involved in this incident are of wood-frame construction, 60 by 120 feet in size, with brick veneer and aluminum facia/soffit. The complex is protected by monitored fire-protection devices such as a sprinkler system, emergency lighting and smoke detectors on all occupied floors; attic areas are not protected.
Upon receiving the alarm, Acting Captain Bret Gageby assigned Engines 1 and 3 and Rescue 2 to the Baneberry Apartments; Rescue 2 was diverted to another call while enroute. Prior to arrival, acting on updated information from additional calls received at dispatch, Gageby called for an ambulance and requested a "company alarm," which calls the fire chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, fire prevention specialist/inspector and half of the paid-on-call personnel to the scene and half of the off-duty career personnel to stations.
Upon arrival, Gageby struck a general alarm to recall the remaining department personnel. His initial size-up found four decks ablaze with fire extending into the attic and showing through that building's roof. Gageby established incident command and requested a mutual aid request ladder company from the City of Anoka Fire Department. Police informed command that all occupants had been evacuated from the first and second floors.
Engine 1 hooked to the hydrant and laid a 2 1/2-inch line to the front of the fire building. Once the water supply was secured, the crew applied the deck gun to the roof. Engine 3 secured a water supply and was ordered to set up its TeleSqurt to supply/assist the sprinkler system. As additional personnel arrived, two teams were directed to lay 1 1/2-inch attack lines from Engines 1 and 3 to conduct primary search and fire attack.
Chief Timothy E. Farmer arrived, assumed command and assigned Gageby to the operations sector. The Anoka Ladder 4 was directed to the rear of the building to raise its platform and assist with fire attack and exposure protection. Farmer then requested additional mutual aid companies from the Andover, Fridley and Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Moundsview departments. He also called the American Red Cross to assist with displaced residents and to set up rehabilitation for fire personnel.
Photo courtesy of Coon Rapids Fire Department The fire at the Baneberry Apartments complex in Coon Rapids, MN, caused $1.75 million in damage to the wood-frame structure.
Command established north and south sectors. Engine 1 was assigned to the north sector, responsible for search and fire attack; the south sector was responsible for fire attack with crews from Engine 3 and Anoka Ladder 4. Weather conditions were presenting major complications during operations - the wind was pushing the fire through the attic, along the building and down the eaves. The heat and humidity required crew rotation, liquid replenishment and food service for the duration of the operation.
The fire was brought under control at 4:50 A.M., an hour and 40 minutes after the initial calls. Once the fire was under control, the mutual aid companies were released.
The attic area sustained the most damage due to the lack of fire sprinkler protection. The only charred material from the fire was found in the attic and the sheetrock around the patio doors of the involved apartments. The charring of the sheetrock stopped when the sprinkler heads were activated. Once the fire got into the attic, the high winds pushed it around.
Investigation Begins
An investigation was undertaken by Coon Rapids Fire Marshal John Piper, Fire Prevention Specialist Dennis Jones and Police Detective Denny Preston, along with Tom Neudahl and David Bahma of the State Fire Marshal's Office. Their probe centered on the second-story apartment which the first-in companies identified as the heaviest involved in fire. From there, the investigators determined that the cause of the fire was incendiary. Through interviews and by digging through debris, the investigators established that no open-flame appliances were on the balcony of that apartment.
Photo courtesy of Coon Rapids Fire Department Investigators have determined that the apartment fire was deliberately set.
At this point, Investigator Mark Bishop and "Buddy," an accelerant-detection dog, were called in. The dog detected numerous positive "hits" for accelerant-type locations within the fire area. This information coincided with the instrumentation devices used by the investigation team before "Buddy" arrived. Samples were then taken to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for laboratory testing. All occupants of the building and all witnesses to the fire also were interviewed.
Since the fire, the investigators have conducted numerous follow-up interviews and logged many call-in tips but there have been no arrests.
Post-Fire Assessment:
Anyone involved in the fire service can criticize or compliment any aspect of a fireground operation. In this case, even though the fire broke out at a time when most residents were asleep, none of them were injured; one firefighter sustained minor injuries from falling sheetrock during overhaul.
All of the fire protection devices operated properly, which officials said can be attributed to the fire department's Apartment Inspection Program, established through the efforts of fire administrators, Firefighter's Local 1935 and the owners/managers of apartment complexes throughout Coon Rapids. Each year, the fire suppression crews inspect every apartment complex in the city. Fire crews use inspection forms provided by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Violations, if any, are documented and forwarded to a property's owner/manager, who then has 30 days to comply. Failure to comply sends the matter to the city's fire inspectors for enforcement.
While the crews are inspecting a building, they slide under each apartment door a copy of an Apartment Fire Safety brochure. The brochure asks residents to inspect their apartments for electrical, heating, cooking and other household fire hazards. It also helps residents to become familiar with their buildings' fire safety devices and exits.
Dennis D. Jones is an inspector and fire prevention specialist for the Coon Rapids, MN, Fire Department. He holds an associate's degree in fire technology and administration from Lake Superior College.
