On Tuesday, January 6th, 2004 at around 2315 hours, Companies 1 and 2 were toned out for a reported structure fire at a home under construction located at 6 Brighton Road in the Hamlet Condominiums off of Shelter Rock Road. Chief of Department Morris (8701) and Deputy Chief O'Malley (8702) were first on the road and were advised by dispatch that the NCPD was on scene confirming a heavy fire condition inside a house under construction.
Upon the arrival of C8701 and DC8702, they found a fully involved basement fire, which was thought to have been burning for a good 3-4 hours prior to anyone knowing, and heavy fire pushing out of the exposure 4 side of the structure. C8701 called for the Signal 10, bringing in one F.A.S.T. Team from Company #5, and the Ambulance Unit.
Shortly after that transmission, Company #3 was toned out for Heavy Rescue 8730 and an additional engine from Company #5. Mutual Aid was also called in from New Hyde Park to standby in Company #5's quarters, and the Port Washington Fire Department to standby in Company #1's quarters with one engine and one tower ladder.
Engine 8712 was ordered to hit a hydrant and stretch several lines to the exposure 1 and 4 sides. Quint 8728 was the next rig to arrive on scene and they initiated an interior search of the fire building. Upon entrance through the front door, the crew of Q8728 found an extremely heavy fire condition throughout the entire structure.
Several 1 3/4" handlines were stretched through the front door in an attempt to contain and knockdown the fire. The fire was unable to be contained due to the fire load and it quickly blew out the roof within 10 minutes of the first line being stretched. The volume of fire was too big and all crews were forced to back out and go to an exterior operation. TL8724 and Q8728 setup their ladder pipes and began a very extensive exterior attack.
E8758 was setup in the rear of the house in a neighboring driveway and their master stream was put into operation as well as a portable master stream off of E8755 manned by the crew of R8730. Several handlines both 2 1/2" and 1 3/4" were setup around the structure in addition to all of the master streams. There was a total collapse of the first floor as well as parts of the second floor and roof. The Port Washington Fire Departments' Tower Ladder, 8517, was eventually called in to the scene as well for ladder pipe operations. The house was drowned and about five feet of water accumulated in the basement. AFFF foam was also applied to suppress the fire.
The Alert Fire Company was called for their coach bus for recovery for crews operating at the Signal 10 due to the frigid twenty-degree temperatures while operating at the fire. The Nassau County Fire Marshals office was notified for an immediate investigation. The exterior operation was continued into the early hours of the morning when all units finally took up at around 0700 hours. Deputy Chiefs 8704, 8705, and 8703 also provided fire command while operating at this fire.
Throughout the day on January 7th, from around 0900-1830 hours, all five M-LFD companies operated back at the scene of the fire to extinguish hot spots and E8735 was stationed there from 1300-1830 on fire watch. The NC Fire Marshals office is currently investigating the fire. |
