April 29, 2008  0331 hrs.  E1, E3, E2, L1, BC3 and C1 responded to a Box Alarm at the corner of William and South Pacific for a reported apartment house fire with flames showing.  First-in crews found a large 2-1/2 story wood-frame, four unit apartment house with heavy fire involvement of the first floor, front, and approximately 80% of the second floor and attic.  Siding on Exposure B was beginning to melt.  Residents of the lower apartments had escaped but advised they believed an occupant was still upstairs.  BC3 determined survivability of anyone left on the second floor was impossible considering fire conditions and ordered a defensive mode of operation.  A hand line was stretched to protect Exposure B and E1, E3, and L1 placed their master streams into operation on Sides A and D.  R4 and C2 were called to the scene and E2 also operated their deck gun.  After about 20 minutes, the fire, which had broken through the roof, was knocked down and all master streams were shut down.  C2 and the engine captains cautiously entered the second floor via ladders to check structural stability, and conduct search and overhaul operations were they could.  A victim was located in a heavily damaged second floor apartment.  During the fire, off duty crews who were covering the city along with Jackson and Scott City engine companies responded to two other fires in the vicinity.  One in an occupied apartment house, which was out on arrival; and, the other involving a vacant house, which was quickly extinguished.  These fires totaled six suspicious fires in the past week in the City.  Due to the fatality, the region’s Major Case Squad was activated to assist fire investigators to solve these cases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 24, 2008 2338 Hrs.  E2, E3, E1, L1, BC1 and C1 responded to a Box Alarm in the 400 block of North Fredrick Street for a reported structure fire.  Crews were just wrapping up from a working house fire two blocks away.  E2 arrived to find a 2-1/2 story wood frame and stucco apartment house with fire coming from the basement doorway on Side C and climbing the rear wall.  E2 stretched a 2” preconnect to the rear and began fighting their way into the basement, while E3 advanced an 1-3/4” attack line into the first floor apartment through Side D to find fire burning through the floor in the rear of the structure.  The fire was knocked down after several minutes.  L1 and E1 conducted a primary search and began opening up walls and windows throughout the structure.  Crews from Jackson and Scott City were called to the scene to provide additional crews as fire extended through the interior walls and into the attic.  The fire was brought under control after about 45 minutes.  A woman and her son living in the second floor apartment were alerted by neighbors and escaped prior to the fire department’s arrival.  The first floor apartment was vacant at the time.  Fire investigators are investigating both suspicious fires of the night.