Neighbor Smells Smoke, Alerts Occupants

A residential house fire Saturday afternoon was kept to a minimum thanks to an alert neighbor and the quick actions by the MCFD.  A neighbor smelled smoke coming from a house on Benchmark Lane on Saturday, Oct. 28th.  The neighbor advised the occupants who were unaware of a problem.  MCFD was activated for the reported house fire in Box 1201 on Benchmark Lane at around 1600hrs.  Car 3 (D/C Zaferakis) arrived within minutes of dispatch to report nothing showing from a 2-story frame house.  However, he noticed a strong burning odor coming from the structure as he walked to the house.  A quick search of the house found an active fire in the upstairs bathroom on the floor and in the ceiling.  The state police on the scene advised that all occupants were out.  E41 (Lt. Zeppetello) was first on-scene and stretched an 1 3/4" line and extinguished the visible fire.  Car 2 (D/C Bressettte) assumed Operations and coordinated the overhaul of the second floor with assistance from R4 (F/F LaDuke) and E11 (F/F Kenyon).  E11's crew also handjacked the primary supply line from the hydrant, through a backyard, to E41 who was not able to lay in due to some initial confusion of the call location.  MCFD TR2 (Lt. Piraino) arrived and assisted with overhaul with the TIC and prepared to go to the roof as Operations was concerned that the fire may have been running the attic.  Fortunately, the actions by the crews knocked the fire quickly and limited its travel. 

Cause of the fire was attributed to the bathroom's ceiling vent fan. 

Additional units on the scene:

E21 (F/F Anderson)- secondary water supply, crew stood fast

E31 (Capt. Jennings)- staging, crew stood fast

Belgium Cold Springs Truck 2- RIT (Truck was activated on intial dispatch as MCFD LD1 was out of service)

BCS Car 3 (A/C Robinson)- Safety