Fort Worth, TX, June 24—Fort Worth Fire Department firefighters found heavy fire on the Bravo side of a renovated two-story house and stretched an attack line through the front door, with reports that people possibly still were inside. Fire conditions changed rapidly on the second floor, which forced the crews from Engine 5 and Truck 14 to bail out of two windows, and a mayday was issued. Shown, Lt. Wes Chambers prepares to pull back Firefighter J.B. Huddleston as the fire-weakened roof crumbles under him. Three firefighters were hospitalized with various injuries.
Photo by Peter Matthews
Frederick, MD, Feb. 10—When Engine 31 of Frederick County Fire & Rescue arrived at a commercial building fire, crews reported heavy smoke showing, and the fire was well advanced throughout the building and extending into the roof and attic area. A second alarm was sounded. Conditions worsened as fire tore through the roof, with heavy fire blowing toward the immediate exposure. Command asked for a third alarm. Firefighters used master streams to knock down the fire and protect the exposures. Approximately 120 firefighters and at least 20 pieces of apparatus were on scene.
Photo by Trevor James
Dunbarton, NH, Feb. 15—The Dunbarton Fire Department (DFD) and automatic mutual aid were dispatched to a report of a garage fire. The first-arriving officer reported a fully involved garage that was attached to a house, with fire spreading rapidly. A second-alarm was dispatched. Within 20 minutes, a third alarm was requested because of the advanced fire load and a lack of hydrants. DFD and Concord, NH, Fire Department crews quickly exhausted their in-tank water and relied on a tanker shuttle of area departments. A fourth alarm was struck for additional staffing and tankers.
Photo by Sean Fesko
Florence Township, NJ, March 24—Members from at least a dozen municipalities battled a fire at a duplex. A column of smoke signaled a working fire to responding firefighters, many of whom just were released from an earlier blaze. The rear of the duplex was heavily involved when first-due firefighters arrived. Heavy fire conditions, exposure concerns and live power lines that burned through and dropped at the front of the building prompted a second alarm. Offensive operations were attempted numerous times, but deteriorating conditions forced crews to evacuate twice. After the second evacuation, elevated master streams were put to work.
Photo by Michael Ratcliffe
Rich Dzierwa | Managing Editor, Firehouse Magazine
Rich Dzierwa joined Firehouse Magazine in 2019 after four tenures with other publications. He was editor-in-chief of Consumers Digest/ConsumersDigest.com and of trade magazine Cutting Tool Engineering. He served as the consumer products reporter for BridgeNews and began his publishing career with an 11-year tenure at Appliance magazine, where he rose to managing editor after serving in other roles. Dzierwa's experience with consumer products, including furnishings, appliances, electronics and space design, has transferred to his Firehouse work regarding the magazine's Station Design columns and the Station Design Awards. Previous work also has contributed to his supervision of several surveys of fire service/EMS members, to produce unique reporting for Firehouse's audience. Dzierwa earned a bachelor's degree in English from Columbia College Chicago.
