Several tankers responded to a house fire Thursday. The rural neighborhood in Marilla, New York, doesn’t have hydrants, and the nearby ponds were frozen.
According to WBKW-TV, 12 fire companies were brought in to assist.
The house, which is reported to be 3-4 years old, is a total loss. WGRZ-TV reports the house was owned by the Erie County Deputy Executive, Jeff Hart.
According to BuffaloNews.com, Assistant Fire Chief Brad Wurthner said the house was completely involved in 15-20 minutes.
“With limited water, you feel helpless,” Wurthner told WGRZ-TV.
ECFireWire.org posted many pictures of apparatus in action on the scene. They can be found here.
The site also posted the radio dispatch. Included in the 21 minute recording, at about 4 minutes, 10 seconds in, units on scene request another aerial unit from nearby. At 5:57, units request more tankers. They begin to list which tankers to request, and at 6:47 they ask for Sheldon’s with a 5,000 gallon tanker. At 17:00, the tanker at one pond confirms the pond is too frozen over & is told: “Affirmative. I’ve got tankers coming from all directions. We’ll just have to tank.”
Listen here
WKBW’s photo gallery is here and the story is here. WGRZ’s story is here.
In Tennessee, also Thursday, firefighters couldn’t get enough pressure from hydrants and called in tankers. Despite their efforts, that house, like the one in New York, couldn’t be saved. Read WBIR’s full story here.
With limited water and NO plan you are helpless..
Did they just removed the hydrants before the fire? Or was there a need for an aggressive ‘box’ alarm to ensure the residents have fire protection.
You dont plan to fail..you just fail to plan!