Connecticut Fire Photographers Association Connecticut Fire Photographer newsletter July 2017 | Page 18

Page 18
July Incidents
07/23/17 San Antonio, TX 7900 blk So. Presa St. Train Derail-
ment— Southside companies were dispatched to a reported Train
derailment near the Calument Refining Plant in the 7900blk of South
Presa Street. Ladder 29 arrived on scene and advised incoming units
that they did have a coal train derailment with multiple train hopper
cars off the track, with all 4 train locomotives all still on the track, and
advised all companies to stage on arrival. After a quick initial investi-
gation, IC directed EN29 to check a leak that was coming from one of
the locomotives. Both the train conducted and engineer notified TK29
that they were the only souls on board. BC06 arrived and assumed
command, and sent Station 1’s Haz-Mat team to work to ensure no
contaminates had leaked out (leak was just water from the train).
BC01 and BC08 utilized SAPD’s Eagle Helicopter to give an aerial
view and over see all operations. Crews quickly found that there were
no direct hazards and turned the incident over to the Railroad
company for clean up. In total, 21 of the 149 cars derailed. Compa-
nies on the ticket were EN29, EN21, EN22, EN11, EN01, EN13,
TK29, TK22, TK11, HAZMAT01, SPILL01, HR11, M22, MSOU1,
MOF04, BC06, BC08, and FSO.
Zack Newton
07/23/17 San Antonio, TX 1-11 Apartment fire W. Peden alley—
Crews were kept busy Sunday afternoon with an apartment fire
shortly after clearing from the train derailment. Downtown compa-
nies were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 120blk of W
Cevallos St. in the cities "Southtown" area. Engine 11, Truck 11 and
Heavy Rescue 11 arrived to find a mix story apartment complex with
nothing showing. Shortly there after, dispatch advised that the cor-
rected address was off of South Flores St on the W Peden Alley side
of the structure, where crews found moderate to heavy smoke in an
apartment. Engine Co 11 repositioned their motor down the ally,
followed by Truck Co 8, forced the rear deck door and pulled a
redline for fire attack. Crews found food left on the stove with heavy
extension into the cabinets above and major water damage from a
fire sprinkler head. The "fire unit" sustained heavy fire and water
damage as well as 2 adjacent units sustaining major water damage.
Companies on the ticket were EN11, EN07, EN08, EN04, EN03,
TK08, TK06, PL11, HR11, BC01, and BC08.
Zack Newton
07/23/17 8th alarm Waltham, MA 169 Elm St. multiple build-
ings—At 0347 am a Box 524 was struck for a building fire at
169 Elm St. As companies left the firehouses the obvious
glow in the sky was a pretty good indication they were going
to work. On arrival of C-2 a working fire and immediately the
2nd was going out. The fire was completely engulfing 2
buildings in a 5-building interconnected apartment complex
under construction. News has it the building was a $44 million
dollar project and just about 90 percent finished.
Due to the windy and warm conditions the fire was fast mov-
ing through this light weight constructed building with embers
reported to be at times softball size, spread throughout the
city starting some minor fires such as dumpsters and a porch
fire. Firefighters had to evacuate an elderly high-rise and then
using a ladder pipe up and over to control the spread of the
fire. With mutual aid from surrounding towns and cities the 8-
alarm fire was equivalent to 10 alarms with the special calls.
Scott LaPrade