Los Angeles, CA, Dec. 11, 2015—LAFD crews responded to a structure fire at a large recycling plant. Once the crews were able to access the yard, the fire was upgraded to a Major Emergency , triggering the dispatch of more than 120 additional firefighters. Units worked to establish heavy stream operations while also staffing handlines to begin the fight. Crews faced countless large and tightly packed bails of plastics and paper combustibles. Additionally, strong winds caused embers to move throughout the plant. Due to the layout of the plant and the defensive operation, LAFD Air Ops was also used to conduct water drops.
Photo by Mike Meadows
Speedway, IN, Jan. 1, 2016—A couple was seriously injured early New Year's morning in a house fire in Speedway, IN. Crews found a man outside the fully engulfed house after being rescued by a police officer. Speedway Ladder 88 and Engine 89 arrived and entered home where they found and removed a female in cardiac arrest. Firefighters were hampered venting the roof by chicken wire under the sub roof.
Photo by Tom Dolan
Portland, OR, Jan. 4, 2016—Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a fire at storage facility. The two-story metal building houses 453 storage rooms of various sizes. Initially, two civilians were unaccounted for. Considering the size of the structure and the possible need for a search, the incident commander called for a third alarm response of fire resources. Crews worked through the night in freezing temperatures to keep the fire from crossing a firewall. Crews were ultimately able to save 370 storage rooms.
Photo by Portland Fire & Rescue
West Orange, NJ, Jan. 1, 2016—A three-alarm fire ripped through the former Saint Marks Episcopal Church (now occupied by the Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Church) in West Orange, NJ, early New Year’s Day. Upon crews’ arrival, heavy smoke was showing from the rear of the structure and additional alarms were quickly transmitted. Ladder pipes from West Orange, East Orange and Millburn’s tower were put into operation as well as a deckgun and several handlines. The fire was placed under control in about three hours, but the exterior operations continued most of the morning.
Photo by Bill Tompkins
