PUNTA GORDA, FL, MARCH 20—Eight townhomes were destroyed by a wind-driven fire at a condominium complex. Firefighters from Charlotte County Fire & EMS assisted members of the City of Punta Gorda Fire Department in battling the blaze that took several hours to contain. This included the need for fire boats from both departments to extinguish two boats and numerous decks across a canal that caught fire from embers. Low water pressure forced companies to draft from the community’s pool, and a tanker made several dumps.
Photo by Jeff Rudolph
QUEENS, NY, MARCH 17—FDNY Tower Ladder 127 operated in a heavy smoke condition during the early stages of a five-alarm in Flushing, Queens. Units were forced into a defensive fire fight shortly after opening up the structure and advancing a hoseline as heavy smoke and fire poured from the single-story commercial building. At the height of the fire, six tower ladders operated.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
HERMISTON, OR, FEB. 22—Umatilla County Fire District #1 responded to an explosion at Shearer’s Foods, which produces potato chips. The explosion was sparked by a natural gas portable boiler. Approximately 60 firefighters were on scene, including members from eight other departments that provided mutual aid. During the fire, evacuations were ordered for residences and a motel located south of the plant.
Photo by Nickolas Oatley/UCFD#1
TARENTUM, PA, FEB. 21—A Highland Hose Company firefighter who was adjusting the nozzle on an aerial became trapped between the rungs of the ladder on scene of a two-alarm fire at which heavy fire was encountered and a collapse of the rear of the structure occurred. After the adjustment to the nozzle was made, the aerial was fully extended to reach the fire from above, but the firefighter wasn’t off of the aerial when it began to extend, which trapped his feet between the rungs. The operator realized what happened and stopped extending the later. Extrication of the trapped firefighter took about an hour. It entailed cutting off the trapped firefighter’s boots. The firefighter suffered a broken foot.
Photo by Eric Rasmussen
