2nd Alarm Fire Starts Busy Weekend

On Friday, April 22, 2005 at 0427 hours, volunteers from Liverpool FD and Moyers Corners (Truck 2) were dispatched for reported smoke in the hallway with bells at 111 Kings Park Drive off of John Glenn Blvd.  Liverpool Car 3 (Chief Payne) arrived within minutes, assumed command, and found a 3.5 story apartment complex with heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor.  The first due engine company, Liverpool Engine 3 (Capt. Frani) arrived and laid a 4” line from Side A to Side C of the complex and advanced a 2” line to the fire floor.  Moments later MCFD Truck 2 (Lt. Belczak) arrived on Side C, splitting the crew to initiate interior searches on the 2nd and 3rd floors based on reports of people still in the building, while the driver prepared the tower for aerial operations.  As crews were making interior attacks, conditions were deteriorating rapidly, with the fire breaking into the cockloft and spreading to the opposite side of the stairwell.  At this time, due to the conditions, Command requested a 2nd alarm into the scene.

As the truck crew made the 3rd floor by way of the interior stairway to begin searches, with no line yet on the 3rd floor, the crew was advised to abandon the 3rd floor due to heavy fire involvement on the 3rd floor landing.  Due to this, both truck crews left the building, accountability taken, and ground ladders thrown to attempt searches via exterior balconies.  Within minutes, and due to rapidly deteriorating conditions, Command ordered all companies out of the building and to assume exterior operations.  Once a sufficient water supply was secured, which required B’ville Engine 5 to draft from the nearby marina, both tower lines were placed into service.  At this time, and under the direction of MCFD B/C 2 (Chief Race), a 1.75” line from the Truck was advanced to exposure 112 to check for extension (past the visible fire wall).  The fire was eventually brought under control using multiple ground and aerial master streams, and was contained to building 111 with no extension into building 112.  Liverpool Truck 2 arrived shortly after 0800 to relieve MCFD Truck 2, and the crew returned to quarters at 0830 hours.  Liverpool crews remained on the scene for several hours assisting investigators and controlling hot spots.

The incident proved to be extremely challenging for all parties involved.  With heavy fire conditions upon arrival and very rapidly deteriorating conditions, multiple assignments were required simultaneously by 2 different departments.  Thankfully, due to the prepared box assignments of the Moyers Corners and Liverpool Fire Departments, both companies have been working side by side for several years in preparation for an incident of this magnitude.  All occupants were quickly accounted for and no firefighter injuries were reported.

Also operating on the scene or providing coverage assignments were units from Baldwinsville, Belgium Cold Springs, North Syracuse, Seneca River, Lakeside, Mattydale, Lyncourt, Taunton, and Warners.