Dey Road Partial Structural Collapse

Companies from the Second and Third Battalions were dispatched Saturday night February 14th at 23:51 hours to a reported alarm system activation at the Northland Packaging Facility located on 4662 Dey Road, Box 3206. Engine Companies 31, 21 and Truck Co. 2 responded on the initial alarm.

Upon arrival on side 1, a large portion of a canopy roof area near the loading docks was observed collapsed with a significant mound of snow present. Truck Co. 2 ( Lt. Patkochis) established command and completed a size-up report indicating a partial collapse of the structure, while Engine Co. 21 ( Capt. Naum) took operations and Engine Co.31 completed a 360 of the structure to determine the scope and extent of the incident. Lt. Brown's crew (TR2) immediately entered the structure to determine interior conditions. Upon entering the large steel framed structure from the loading dock area on side 1, a natural gas like odor was encountered by interior companies, along with a sizable water flow from a compromised sprinkler branch pipe at the roof area of the number 1-4 corner.

Command quickly requested that the box be filled, subsequently bringing into the scene Engine Co. 41 and Ladder Co.1 along with the Battalion 2 Chief Frtiz (BC-2). Operations identified an isolated collapse of a single 40 ft. bay area at the 1-4 corner, with a bowed steel beam and compromised steel bar joists. Precautionary measures included dropping supply lines and establishing water sources from nearly hydrants while the structure was completed searched and the extent of the structural collapse was verified. Metering of the interior areas by TR-2, LD-1 and E-21 crews did not identify any hazardous conditions with normal readings present. It was determined later in the operations that the gas like odor resulted from oil residual mixing with the sprinkler system water flow from adjacent steel printing spindles contributed to the natural gas like odor.

E-31 and E-41 crews worked to secure the water flow from the yard pump house, as the flow control valve for the compromised sprinkler system was buried under the mound of snow and structural steel in the side 1 collapse zone. BC-2 (Chief Fritz) worked with the 911 Center in requesting support from Niagara-Mohawk for utilities and Code Enforcement assistance and supported command post operations of the incident. 

Town of Clay of Clay Codes Enforcement arrived and began an inspection of the structure along with the building representative, as companies picked up lines in near sub-zero temperatures and retuned to service by 01:30 hours.