West Merrick Road [8-8-12]
When FireCom signed on the air for the Valley Stream Fire Department on the night of August 8th with a reported building fire, many could get the sense that the call had potential. The call was first dispatched at 22:55 hours and the location given as West Merrick Road and Shaw Avenue. The feeling that the call had potential was proven true when the first units that arrived on scene were met with heavy fire in two stores of a one story tax payer. The fire was also burning upwards into the cockloft area of the stores sending smoke down the length of the taxpayer and pushing out of the building. No time was wasted in transmitting the working fire and a second alarm transmission almost immediately followed it. Minutes later as the fire continued to intensify and the smoke billowed from the commercial building a third alarm was transmitted. With each new alarm that was struck a new wave of apparatus and manpower responded to the scene to provide relief.
Units surrounded the building on all sides, placing multiple commercial size hand lines into operation. Aside from the various hand lines used, tower ladder operations were also commenced to assist in operations. Valley Stream Ladder 345 swept across the front of the building knocking down fire along with Malverne Ladder 434 and Lawrence Cedarhurst Ladder 325. Valley Stream’s second ladder, Ladder 346, was in the rear of the building addressing the fire load there along with VSFD Engine 341. Ladders 352 from Woodmere and 708 from Elmont were also on the scene. FAST trucks were placed on the east and west sides of the building and consisted of Elmont Ladder 707 and Lynbrook Ladder 427.
At the time of the fire, the night was still very humid and many firefighters were facing exhaustion and fatigue after fighting the fire. Because of this Rockville Centre responded to the scene with Unit 446 for rehab purposes. With this firefighters were able to catch their breath and rest for a moment. Because of the conditions on scene and the amount of work that needed to be done, additional engines were called to the scene. These engines responded from Hewlett and Elmont and helped to contain the blaze. During operations, those on scene faced lowered water pressure in the area due to the amount of units tapping into the water system. Multiple ambulances also responded to the scene should they be needed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on the scene of the fire aside from feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. Standing by for Valley Stream in their headquarters was Rockville Centre Ladder 447, Inwood Engine 314, and Meadowmere Park Unit 339.
After two hours of fighting the fire and coming to contain it, the fire was brought under control [signal 12 transmitted]. Due to the amount of water put on the fire and the heating and cooling units on the roof, the building posed a collapse hazard for those on scene. The cause of the fire remained under investigation after firefighters were able to make a good stop keeping the fire to two of the up to eight stores in the row. All fire department units were under the command of Valley Stream’s First Assistant Chief Brocher [3401].
Video from the scene: https://youtu.be/hTcFDX18OX0
Read MoreUnits surrounded the building on all sides, placing multiple commercial size hand lines into operation. Aside from the various hand lines used, tower ladder operations were also commenced to assist in operations. Valley Stream Ladder 345 swept across the front of the building knocking down fire along with Malverne Ladder 434 and Lawrence Cedarhurst Ladder 325. Valley Stream’s second ladder, Ladder 346, was in the rear of the building addressing the fire load there along with VSFD Engine 341. Ladders 352 from Woodmere and 708 from Elmont were also on the scene. FAST trucks were placed on the east and west sides of the building and consisted of Elmont Ladder 707 and Lynbrook Ladder 427.
At the time of the fire, the night was still very humid and many firefighters were facing exhaustion and fatigue after fighting the fire. Because of this Rockville Centre responded to the scene with Unit 446 for rehab purposes. With this firefighters were able to catch their breath and rest for a moment. Because of the conditions on scene and the amount of work that needed to be done, additional engines were called to the scene. These engines responded from Hewlett and Elmont and helped to contain the blaze. During operations, those on scene faced lowered water pressure in the area due to the amount of units tapping into the water system. Multiple ambulances also responded to the scene should they be needed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on the scene of the fire aside from feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. Standing by for Valley Stream in their headquarters was Rockville Centre Ladder 447, Inwood Engine 314, and Meadowmere Park Unit 339.
After two hours of fighting the fire and coming to contain it, the fire was brought under control [signal 12 transmitted]. Due to the amount of water put on the fire and the heating and cooling units on the roof, the building posed a collapse hazard for those on scene. The cause of the fire remained under investigation after firefighters were able to make a good stop keeping the fire to two of the up to eight stores in the row. All fire department units were under the command of Valley Stream’s First Assistant Chief Brocher [3401].
Video from the scene: https://youtu.be/hTcFDX18OX0
