At approximately 13:05 hours on Sunday January 18th, 2010, Dunkirk Police and Fire received numerous reports of a house fire at 130 Lincoln Ave. FF Michalski on Engine 4 reported a heavy smoke column from the area of East Fourth and Park. Some reports stated smoke could be seen from as far as Rt's 20 and 60 in Fredonia. Engine 4 arrived on location first reporting a working fire inside a 2 story residence. Crews received reports on arrival that there may be occupants inside and initiated a search of the structure. Many 1 3/4" and 2 1/2" lines were deployed to extinguish the house which was fully involved in the rear 2 story section and extending into the front portion of the residence. The fire threatened the neighboring house, but fortunately it received no damage. One firefighter was injured at the scene and sent to Brooks Memorial Hospital via Alstar EMS. Crews were forced out of the building due to heavy fire conditions in the attic. Engine 2 and off duty firefighters were sent to the scene, as well as Fredonia Engine 14, which while standing by at HQ was sent to a fire alarm at another city location, and responded to multiple EMS calls. The fire is under investigation and the occupants were not home at the time of incident. The #3 shift was working and the incident commander was Chief Keith Ahlstrom. The house is scheduled for emergency demolition. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, R1-Acting Lt.Stern, E1-FF.Thomas, E3-FF.Wright, E4-FF.Michalski, L1-FF.Trippy. Off duty personnel: E2@Scene-FF.Kucharski, HQ/Dispatch-Lt.Hyland, Scene-Lt.Hanlon, Lt.Edwards, FF.Muscato, FF.Kirell, FF.J,Ellman, FF.P.Ossman, FF.Meyer, FF.K.Ossman, FF.Barter, FF.Thompson, and FF.Pencek. LINK TO OBSERVER ARTICLE (VIDEO BY PAUL SZACH AND PHOTOS BY KAREN TRIPPY, AND DAN MICHALAK)
At approximately 0733 hours on Saturday morning, Fire HQ received a report of a structure fire at 26 Crooked Brook Drive. Lt. Gary Katta in Rescue 1 arrived onscene at 0735 hours reporting a working fire in a 1 1/2 story residence. Neighbors at the scene reported that they believe an occupant was still inside. An attack on the fire was initiated by advancing a hose line through the front door. The attack line immediately encountered heavy fire conditions as Lt. Katta and his search team squeezed past the attack crew to search for the victim. The search team encountered heavy smoke and heat conditions throughout the residence. Lt. Katta found the female victim unresponsive at the foot of the basement stairs. The victim was quickly removed by Lt. Katta assisted by Lt. Bob Trzaska, FF. Patrick Ossman, and FF. James Ellman. CPR was initiated and the victim was rapidly transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital via Alstar EMS. The fire was controlled with (2) 1 3/4" handlines, and 1400' of 5" supply hose was laid from the nearest adequate hydrant at West Point Drive and Lakeshore Drive West. Standing by at Fire Headquarters, and responding to other calls was Engine 14 from Fredonia Fire. One ambulance was requested from Cassadaga Fire Department to stand by at the scene, but was canceled enroute. The Dunkirk Fire Department had a unit at the previous fire scene during this incident, but that did not hamper the response to this incident. The #2 shift was on duty for this incident, and the incident commander was Captain Allen Loeb. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, caused by smoking materials. Crew on duty: C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Katta, E2 (in service for E1 which was at previous fire)FF.J.Ellman/FF.Thomas, E3-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Kujawa, L1-FF.Kevin Ahlstrom, Dispatch-FF.Michalski, On Scene: Lt.Edwards, Lt.Trzaska, FF.Muscato, FF.Kirell, FF.Wright, FF.Stern, FF.K.Ossman, FF.Kucharski, FF.Trippy, FF.Barter, FF.Thompson, and FF.Pencek. (PHOTOS AND VIDEO BY PAUL SZACH)
