Belleville, NJ, May 14, 2018—Belleville firefighters, with mutual aid from numerous neighboring departments, faced a difficult fire that tore through an apartment building. Upon crews’ arrival, fire was showing from one window in the rear, but the flames had already extended to an interior stairwell; fire soon entered the cockloft and then went through the roof. Interior operations were hampered by excessive junk piled up in the vacant apartment of origin. As the flames and heavy smoke extended throughout the cockloft, the decision was made to go defensive. Two elevated master streams and multiple handlines kept the fire contained to the original fire building.
Photo by Bill Tompkins
Rochester, MA, May 20, 2018—Firefighters aggressively battled a three-alarm house fire but had to pull out of the building due to soft floors on the first floor, as reported by crews. After going defensive, big lines were put into operation. Crews also faced water supply challenges, and multiple tankers were called in to secure water source. Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Freetown, Acushnet and Wareham provided mutual aid for extinguishment efforts and station coverage.
Photo by Jon Tenca
West Chicago, IL, May 21, 2018—The Bartlett Fire District responded to a report of a fully involved attached garage fire with extension into the house. The first fire crews pulled a hoseline to the front and began an exterior attack. Other firefighters pulled a hoseline through the front entrance of the building to the first floor and aggressively attacked the fire from the interior. Water tenders were brought in to supply water while other crews stretched a supply line over 1,200 feet to the closest hydrant. Firefighters searched the smoke-charged building for any trapped occupants. Because most of the building was involved in fire, firefighters were forced to take a defensive position.
Photo by John Tulipano