4-Alarm Fire Destroys Garrettsville, OH, Businesses

GARRETTSVILLE-FREEDOM-NELSON JOINT FIRE DISTRICT

Chief: David Friess

Personnel: 26 firefighters, 4 probationary firefighters, 4 Explorers

Apparatus: 2 pumpers, 1 quint, 1 heavy rescue, 2 grass units, 1 SUV, 2 tankers, 1 JD Gator

Population: 8,800

Area: 52 square miles

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, a four-alarm fire destroyed a historic building on Main Street in downtown Garrettsville, OH. Thirteen businesses were damaged or destroyed in the fire and the local food pantry lost hundreds of pounds of food collected during a recent donation drive. Two firefighters were injured. Firefighters from 37 departments in three counties operated 30 tankers, 13 engines and four aerials at the scene.

The Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Joint Fire District operates out of a single station as a part-time paid department Monday to Friday from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., with paid-on-call coverage during off hours and a full-time chief. In 2013, the department responded to 307 fire calls. It does not provide EMS service.

The three-story building of origin, known as the Buckeye Block, was a mixed-construction building of heavy-timber and balloon-type construction built in 1850. The flat roof was covered in a mix of asphalt and metal materials. The building contained 11,880 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. On the second floor was the former 400-seat Buckeye Hall auditorium, which in the late 1800s hosted Presidents James A. Garfield and William McKinley, among other notable speakers. The third floor was used for storage.

Building of origin

The Buckeye Block building was the easternmost building on the block. Immediately to its west is a one-story masonry structure with a membrane roof that withstood fire impingement and remained relatively undamaged. This structure is bordered on the B, C and D sides by balloon/wood-frame/heavy-timber construction (including the Buckeye Block to the D side) that allowed the fire to spread. To the west of the masonry structure were separate, two-story commercial structures, each housing two businesses, and consisting of wood-frame balloon construction and sharing a common wall.

Roofing materials were mixed among the structures and businesses. Newer roofs were built on top of existing roofs and consisted of asphalt shingles, metal and membrane over decking. Of these, different pitches corresponded to the different buildings and businesses. There were no fire protection or detection systems in the buildings. The fire burned four buildings in the scenic area of downtown Garrettsville, leveling three of them, and required the response from 37 fire departments in Portage, Geauga and Trumbull counties before it was extinguished.

Thirteen businesses were damaged or destroyed in the fire and the local food pantry lost hundreds of pounds of foodstuffs collected during a recent food drive. Businesses affected included Chic and Shabby Resale Shop dealing in antique-type merchandise; New Hearing, a hearing aid sales and service business; The Barber of G’Ville barber shop; Shaker Tree, dealing in antique-type merchandise; Robert Mishler Law Offices; Miller Lawn and Garden hardware store; One Real Peach, dealing in antique-type merchandise; Shiffer’s Clock Repair and Sales; The Law Office of Dann Timmons and Amy Turos; Maschek Construction Co. offices; Garrettsville Foot and Ankle Clinic; T and B Tools, a hardware store; and Nelson and Garrettsville Community Cupboard, the food pantry.

Initial dispatch

The Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Joint Fire District was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 8125 Main St. at 1:15 P.M. Responding were Engine 1614, a 1,500-gpm pumper; Engine 1628, a 1,000-gpm pumper/tanker; and Quint 1613, a 70-foot aerial platform with a 1,500-gpm pump, with five firefighters under the command of Chief David Friess.

Firefighters observed heavy smoke and fire showing on the third floor, C side of the building. Quint 1613 was positioned on Main Street, side A, in front of the building and fed by a 200-foot, four-inch hydrant supply line. This hydrant was on an eight-inch water main and was capable of supplying 1,500 gpm. Engine 1614 was positioned on High Street, the B side of the building, and supplied by a 200-foot, four-inch line. This hydrant was also on an eight-inch main and could supply 1,500 gpm. Engine 1628 was positioned on Center Street, at the C/D corner, and supplied by a 200-foot, four-inch line. This hydrant too was on an eight-inch main and capable of supplying 1,500 gpm. All occupants were out of the buildings upon arrival of the fire department.

Interior attack made

Firefighters made an initial interior attack on the fire through the Shaker Tree store. Three crews of three firefighters used three 200-foot, 1¾-inch attack lines. One crew advanced to the second floor of the building, where there were met with heavy fire and zero visibility near the C side of the building with the fire extending toward the B side. The second crew, operating on the first floor, found fire extension. The third crew entered through an open garage door on the C side in an attempt to extinguish the fire. Quint 1613 supplied one attack line from the front of the building and Engine 1614 supplied the two attack lines at the rear.

Second and third alarms

Captain Tom Chapman requested the second and third alarms at 1:20 P.M. Responding on the second alarm were Hiram Fire Department Engine 2, a 1,500-gpm pumper/tanker; Windham Volunteer Fire Department Engine 2815, a 1,250-gpm pumper; and Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department Engine 1, a 65-foot aerial ladder with a 2,000-gpm pump. Community EMS District (the EMS provider for Garrettsville) responded with Squad 2922.

Responding on the third alarm were Parkman Township Volunteer Fire Department Engine 4221, a 1,500-gpm pumper; Braceville Township Fire Department Engine 16, a 1,250-gpm pumper; and Rootstown Fire Department Ladder 2519, a 75-foot aerial ladder with a 1,500-gpm pump.

Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Tanker 1618, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 500-gpm pump, arrived at 1:21 P.M. and Heavy Rescue 1616 arrived at 1:25 P.M. Tanker 1618 was positioned with Engine 1628 for additional water supply.

Hiram Engine 2 was positioned on side B near Garrettsville Engine 1614 and used its own booster tank water to supply a 200-foot, three-inch supply line to a portable monitor. This engine was reassigned as a draft engine later in incident. Windham Engine 2815 was positioned at the A/D corner and fed by dual three-inch supply lines from a 1,500-gpm hydrant on Water Street. Firefighters placed two three-inch handlines into operation from this engine. Mantua Engine 1was positioned on side A near A/D corner and was supplied by a 100 foot, four inch supply line from Windham Engine 2815. Firefighters placed one 2½-inch attack line and one 1¾-inch attack line into operation from this engine.

Parkman Engine 4221 was assigned as a draft engine at Eagle Creek on Elm Street. Braceville Engine 16 was staged near the scene with its manpower assigned to firefighting operations. Rootstown Ladder 2519 was positioned at the A/B corner of the building and supplied by a 150-foot, four-inch line from a 1,500-gpm hydrant. This unit placed its aerial master stream into operation along with a 150-foot, 1¾-inch attack line.

Defensive operations

Friess ordered all firefighters out of the building at 1:40 P.M. after the observation of a C-side roof failure near the stairwell where interior crews were operating. Friess established a collapse zone around the entire building at this time.

Four aerial devices were placed in operation. Garrettsville Quint 1613 operated two aerial master streams on side A; Streetsboro Ladder 2619 operated one aerial master stream on side A near the A/B corner; Mantua Engine 1 operated one aerial master stream on side A side near the A/D corner; and Rootstown Ladder 2519 operated one aerial master stream on side A near the A/B corner (Streetsboro Ladder 2619 and Rootstown Ladder 2519 were positioned nearly side by side).

Four portable monitors were placed into operation. Garrettsville Engine 1614’s monitor was supplied by two 100-foot, three-inch lines; Garrettsville Engine 1628’s monitor was supplied by a 100-foot, three-inch line; Hiram Engine 2’s monitor was supplied by a 150-foot, three-inch line; and Mantua Engine 1’s monitor was supplied by a 300-foot, three-inch line. Additionally, numerous 1¾-inch, 2½-inch and three-inch handlines were placed into operation to control the fire.

Fourth alarm

Friess requested a fourth alarm at 1:27 P.M. Responding were Southington Volunteer Fire Department Engine 45, a 1,000-gpm pumper; Charlestown Township Volunteer Fire Department Engine 1314, a 1,500-gpm pumper; and Streetsboro Fire Department Ladder 2619, a 75-foot aerial ladder with a 1,500-gpm pump. Southington Engine 45 was staged on the bridge over Eagle Creek on Windham Street and its manpower was assigned to firefighting operations. Charlestown Township Engine 1314 was assigned to drafting operations at Eagle Creek on South Street. Streetsboro Ladder 2619 was positioned at the A/B corner and set up for aerial master stream operations, supplied by a 200-foot, four-inch line from Garrettsville Engine 1614.

Additional mutual aid units that responded included Aurora Fire Department Engine 2, a 1,500-gpm pumper; Bristol Fire Department Engine 17, a 1,250-gpm pumper; Chagrin Falls Fire Department Engine 2, a 1,500-gpm pumper; Newbury Volunteer Fire Department Engine 4121, a 2,000-gpm pumper; Southington Volunteer Fire Department Rescue 45, a 1,000-gpm pumper; Troy Township Volunteer Fire Department Engine 4521, a 1,250-gpm pumper; and Warren Township Fire Department Engine 47, a 1,250-gpm pumper.

Aurora Engine 2 was assigned to drafting operations at Eagle Creek on Elm Street. Bristol Engine 17 was used in shuttling water. Chagrin Falls Engine 2 was assigned as a draft engine at Center Street and Maple Avenue. Newbury Engine 4121was used in shuttling water. Southington Rescue 45 was staged with its Engine 45 on the Windham Street bridge and manpower assigned to firefighting operations. Troy Engine 4521 was staged near the scene and its manpower used for firefighting operations. Warren Township Engine 47 was used for shuttling water. Northeast Ambulance Service, a private EMS provider from Ravenna, provided two ambulances at the scene.

Water supply

Knowing that the municipal water system could not supply the amount of water needed for firefighting operations, Friess decided that a tanker-shuttle operation and a creek-drafting operation would be needed. Two tanker dump sites were established. One was set up at High Street and Maple Avenue using two 2,500-gallon dump tanks with a jet siphon connecting them. Hiram Engine 2 was set up as the draft engine and supplied a 200-foot, four-inch line to Garrettsville Engine 1614 and Rootstown Ladder 2519 with a 400-foot, four-inch line. The second tanker dump site was established one block east at Center Street and Maple Avenue using one 2,500-gallon dump tank. Chagrin Falls Engine 2 was set up as the draft engine and supplied Garrettsville Engine 1628 with a 300-foot, four-inch line and Windham Engine 2815 with a 500-foot, four-inch line.

Tanker shuttle

Friess requested what amounted to 26 additional tankers in order to facilitate a tanker shuttle to supplement the water supplies. This was accomplished by the activation of the Geauga County Water Shuttle and the Western Trumbull County Water Shuttle. Responding were Auburn Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 3037, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Bainbridge Township Fire Department Tanker 3135, a 2,500-gallon tanker with a 2,000-gpm pump; Braceville Township Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 16, a 1,500-gallon tanker with a 1,250-gpm pump; Burton Fire and Rescue Tanker 3232, a 2,750-gallon tanker with a 2,000-gpm pump; Champion Township Fire Department Tanker 21, a 1,500-gallon tanker with a 1,500-gpm pump; Charlestown Township Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 1318, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 1418, a 2,100-gallon vacuum tanker; Edinburg Township Fire Department Tanker 1518, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,500-gpm pump; Farmington Township Fire Department Tanker 22, a 2,500-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Hambden Fire Department Tanker 3638, a 2,000-gallon tanker with a 2,250-gpm pump; Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department Tanker 1, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Mecca Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 38, a 2,500-gallon tanker with a 750-gpm pump; Mesopotamia Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 39, a 2,600-gallon tanker with a 500-gpm pump; Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 3831, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 2,000-gpm pump; Montville Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 3938, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,250-gpm pump; Munson Fire Department Tanker 4033, a 2,500-gallon tanker with a 1,500-gpm pump; Newton Falls Joint Fire District Tanker 43, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Palmyra Township Fire Department Tanker 2018, a 3,000-gallon vacuum tanker; Paris Township Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 2118, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Parkman Township Volunteer fire Department Tanker 4231, a 2,200-gallon tanker with a 500-gpm pump; Ravenna Township Fire Department Tanker 2418, a 2,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Russell Fire Department Tanker 4336, a 2,500-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump; Southington Volunteer Fire Department Tanker 45, a 2,000-gallon tanker with a 750-gpm pump; Thompson Fire Department Tanker 4434, a 2,250-gallon vacuum tanker; Troy Township Fire Department Tanker 4231, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,250-gpm pump; and Windham Volunteer Fire Department 2818, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump. Also participating in the tanker-shuttle operations were Garrettsville Tanker 1618, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 500-gpm pump, and Tanker 1628, a 3,000-gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump.

Creek-drafting operations

Eagle Creek provided sites for two drafting operations. The primary location was on Elm Street directly across from the Garrettsville fire station in the parking lot of the dry cleaner’s business. Parkman Engine 4221 and Aurora Engine 2 were assigned as the draft engines. Parkman’s engine laid 500 feet of four-inch supply line from South and Main streets to the draft site.

Parkman’s engine initially took the role of filling water-shuttling apparatus until the arrival of Aurora Engine 2. Hiram Engine 1 was positioned at the intersection and was supplied by Parkman Engine 4221. Hiram Engine 1 relay pumped another 400 feet of four-inch supply line up Main Street to supply Rootstown Ladder 2519. Aurora Engine 2 laid 150 feet of four-inch supply line to reach the road in order to fill water-shuttling apparatus.

The second drafting location was in the lower parking area of a doctor’s office on South Street. Charlestown Engine 1314, assigned as the draft engine at this site, laid approximately 700 feet of four-inch line and hooked on to the supply line already laid from Garrettsville Quint 1613.

The Portage County Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) was requested to respond to the scene at 4 P.M. The team consists of officers of county fire departments as well as law enforcement officials and specially trained civilians (for example, amateur radio operators). The IMAT responded with the Portage County Emergency Management Agency’s mobile command center and mobile generator/light tower. The roles fulfilled by the IMAT team included departmental accountability, aiding in generating press releases and hosting interviews by investigators/law enforcement officials.

Friess declared the fire under control at 8 P.M. Mutual aid units began being released at that time. The last mutual aid unit to leave the scene was Charlestown Township Engine 1314, which was operating as a draft engine, at 10:26 A.M. on March 23. The last Garrettsville apparatus left the scene at 3:52 P.M. on March 24.

Conclusion

One hundred forty-one firefighters operated 30 tankers, 13 engines and four aerials at the scene. A total of 1.5 million gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire. Two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation and were transported to the hospital where they were treated and released. No civilians were injured. Weather conditions at the time of the fire were a temperature in the 40s with easterly winds.

An origin-and-cause investigation was conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office; and Portage County Fire Investigation Unit. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. The fire appears to have originated on the roof of the building that was being retarred, firefighters said. Investigators could not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ignition of roofing materials started the blaze. The fire marshal’s office found no reason to suspect arson. Damage was estimated at $4 million to the buildings and $1 million to the contents.

The author thanks Chief David Friess and Firefighter Kevin Sponaugle for their assistance in the preparation of this article.

LESSONS LEARNED

PROBLEMS

• Low manpower at the beginning of the incident was a problem in getting lines into position, establishing water sources and initial attack.

• Requesting mutual aid immediately supplied the necessary resources.

• Rapid fire growth was attributed to the size of the old building, type of construction, void spaces, double roofs, double ceilings and the lack of fire-stops.

SUCCESSES

• Pre-planning multiple times a year with mutual aid departments in areas of water supply and accountability aided in the successful outcome of this incident.

• The department realized that earlier activation of the tanker shuttle and of the county Incident Management Team (IMT) are necessary for future incidents.

• Stricter enforcement of firefighters wearing personnel protective clothing is necessary at incidents.

—Chief David Friess, Firefighter Kevin Sponaugle and Jay K. Bradish