Hot Shots 12/20

NEW YORK CITY, OCT. 31—On arrival at a 250 x 150-foot, single-story, commercial building in Brooklyn, FDNY units were met with heavy smoke and fire conditions throughout. Units opened up the structure, and firefighters operated large-diameter hoselines into the bay doors, but members quickly were forced out because of advanced fire conditions. A mayday was called for a missing firefighter, and the firefighter was found quickly. At least 130 firefighters operated on scene. Five tower ladders were put into operation to knock down the fire from the exterior.

Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

NEW ORLEANS, SEPT. 28—New Orleans Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a one-alarm fire at the site of the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse. Demolition contractors were in the process of cutting steel girders when sparks ignited roofing materials that were on one of the upper floors. Firefighters extended an aerial ladder to reach the fire. Seven units and 22 members were used to bring the incident under control.

Photo by Chris E. Mickal

JUNCTION CITY, OR, OCT. 8—Five Junction City Rural Fire Department firefighters and a team leader are divided into two groups, each with a 1¾-inch hoseline, during flammable liquid and gas (FLAG) training. Eighty percent of the homes in the department’s district rely on natural gas for heat. The training prepares crews to respond in the event of a leak and/or subsequent ignition.

Photo by Marshall Harvey

AGAWAM, MA, OCT. 15—Fire ignited on a compost pile on top of a landfill and subsequently burned for five days. At least 100 firefighters who operated around the clock were required to staff the tanker shuttle operation to fight the fire because of low hydrant pressure on site. The estimated total gallonage used was more than 2 million gallons.

Photo by Nate Arnold