Doyle Street [7-18-13]
While in the middle of an intense heat wave striking the New York area the Long Beach Fire Department was alerted to a reported house fire at 12 Doyle Street on the afternoon of July 18th. Long Beach First Assistant Chief Robert Tuccillo [231A] was among the first to arrive on scene and was met with heavy fire consuming two homes leading him to immediately transmit the working fire [signal ten]. The homes [12 Doyle Street and 11 Armour Street] were back to back in a tightly fitted residential neighborhood. Due to the amount of fire and extreme weather conditions the chief requested two truck companies to the scene for firefighting and one FAST truck for each home involved. Island Park Ladder 223 and Lawrence-Cedarhurst Ladder 325 were these original FAST trucks. Soon these truck companies saw work and became exhausted. They were soon replaced by Point Lookout-Lido Ladder 254 and Oceanside Ladder 244 who became the new FAST teams.
Also on the scene of the fire was Inwood Ladder 313, Rockville Centre Ladder 447 and Rescue 446 [requested for rehab purposes], Island Park Engine 224 and one ambulance, Oceanside Engine 248, Baldwin Ambulance 2010A, and Lawrence Cedarhurst Ambulance 329 among others. Standing by for Long Beach during the extended operation was Baldwin Engine 203, Woodmere Ladder 352, and an engine and ambulance from Point Lookout-Lido. Within an hour all visible fire was knocked down with the use of multiple hand lines that were stretched. The home on Doyle Street fared better as only a deck and exterior portion of the home burned. However, the home on Armour Street was a total loss. Aside from high temperatures firefighters extinguishing the fire on Armour Street were hampered by the solar panels that were attached to the roof making it difficult to properly vent the roof. Unfortunately it was later stated that the residents of the Armour Street home were within days of moving back in following months of Hurricane Sandy related construction. The cause of the fire centered on a shed in the rear of the homes. The exact origin of what caused the fire remained under investigation. During the operation two command posts were established on each street and units were divvied up. For a few minutes when conditions deteriorated firefighters were pulled out of 11 Armour Street completely and an exterior attack was carried out. All fire department units came under the command of the Long Beach Fire Department Commissioner Scott Kemmins [239] and First Assistant Chief Tuccillo [231A].
Read MoreAlso on the scene of the fire was Inwood Ladder 313, Rockville Centre Ladder 447 and Rescue 446 [requested for rehab purposes], Island Park Engine 224 and one ambulance, Oceanside Engine 248, Baldwin Ambulance 2010A, and Lawrence Cedarhurst Ambulance 329 among others. Standing by for Long Beach during the extended operation was Baldwin Engine 203, Woodmere Ladder 352, and an engine and ambulance from Point Lookout-Lido. Within an hour all visible fire was knocked down with the use of multiple hand lines that were stretched. The home on Doyle Street fared better as only a deck and exterior portion of the home burned. However, the home on Armour Street was a total loss. Aside from high temperatures firefighters extinguishing the fire on Armour Street were hampered by the solar panels that were attached to the roof making it difficult to properly vent the roof. Unfortunately it was later stated that the residents of the Armour Street home were within days of moving back in following months of Hurricane Sandy related construction. The cause of the fire centered on a shed in the rear of the homes. The exact origin of what caused the fire remained under investigation. During the operation two command posts were established on each street and units were divvied up. For a few minutes when conditions deteriorated firefighters were pulled out of 11 Armour Street completely and an exterior attack was carried out. All fire department units came under the command of the Long Beach Fire Department Commissioner Scott Kemmins [239] and First Assistant Chief Tuccillo [231A].
