Hot Shots 2/22

Hot Shots includes an image that was captured as Caldwell, ID, Fire Department firefighters and 10 other departments battled a three-alarm fire at a butter processing plant, which was complicated by structural collapse.

Firehouse Staff

Feb. 14, 2022

2 min read

Sarah Lowe 10 12 21 Caldwell Id Comm Fire Pic 4 61f065aa6fa25

CALDWELL, ID, OCT. 12—Responding to a three-alarm fire at a butter processing plant, first crews arrived to discover that the center section of the building was fully involved. The fire involvement and structural collapse inhibited entry to the building, but all of the plant’s employees were evacuated safely. Ten neighboring departments assisted, which brought at least 67 members and at least 24 apparatus to the operation. It took several days to fully extinguish the fire because of building layout and compromised structural integrity.

Photo by Sarah Lowe

Gordon Nord 1 7 21 Chicago Bungalow Pic 3

CHICAGO, JAN. 7—Firefighters responded to a fire in a one-and-a-half-story bungalow that was undergoing rehab. While en route to the fire, the fire alarm office initiated a working fire response, sending in Squad 5, a command van, a RIT company and a chief. Engine 32 arrived and reported a fire in the attic and hit the visible fire with its deck gun. Companies advanced lines into the building in an attempt to access the attic space while the truck companies opened the roof. Companies encountered very heavy smoke and heat conditions. Moments later they reported fire through the roof. An evacuation of the building was requested, and a personnel accountability report was performed, because companies couldn’t make the attic space. A Still & Box Alarm was requested, which brought additional battalion chiefs, the deputy district chief, and an additional two engines and a tower ladder. Companies were able to confine the fire to the structure of origin.

Photo by Gordon Nord Jr.

John De Forest 1123 21 Longmeadow, Ma Structure Fire Pic 7

LONGMEADOW, MA, NOV. 23—First-arriving crews found heavy fire and smoke in a large single-story strip mall. Second and third alarms were struck. Four ladder pipes, multiple 2½-inch hoselines and deck guns were used to battle the massive fire. It took firefighters more than two hours to bring the heaviest of the fire under control. A fourth alarm was struck for personnel. Six businesses were destroyed.

Photo by John DeForest

Joseph Buehrer 12 9 21 Fairbanks Ak Vacant Bldg Pic 2 V2

FAIRBANKS, AK, DEC. 9—Firefighters from three departments were on scene of a fire at a vacant laundromat. Prior to arrival, two occupants self-escaped from the building. Crew members assisted one occupant to safety through a window. Companies initiated an offensive attack on the fire before transitioning to a defensive operation because of difficulties locating the fire. Once crews were able, they resumed offensive operations and completed searches to ensure that no more transients were in the structure.

Photo by Joseph Buehrer