Article and photos by Jason Frattini
Companies from Detroit’s 2nd Battalion responded to the area of Firwood and Puritan on the report of a dwelling fire. Arriving on scene,Engine34 reported they had a two-story dwelling fully involved and they were stretching.
Prior to the arrival of Chief 2, E34 requested an additional two companies to the scene forRITand manpower. The FEO of E34 reported a bad hydrant and was looking for another one. E34 reported they now had two dwellings involved and fire was impinging on the third house on the B side of the primary fire building.
E34’s FEO reported a second bad hydrant and that he was out of line and another engine would have to stretch. Chief 2 arrived on scene and ordered Engine 42 to find a hydrant and establish a water supply, and advised Central Office that he now had threedwellingsinvolved.
Firefighters made anaggressiveattack on thedwellingson either side of the original dwelling and were able to keep the fire from spreading to the dwelling on the D side. Aerial operations were ordered but Ladder 17 could not get their pumps to engage and a request for another truck with a working aerial was ordered.
Making “The Decision”: Transitioning to an Exterior Attack
The original fire building eventually collapsed in on itself and significant damage was caused to the dwelling on the B side. Firefighters were hampered by sub-zero temperatures, frozen lines, mechanical issues, and water problems at this fire. During the fire, E42 (the primary pumping engine) broke down and a request for the emergency repairman was made.
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