-

November 2007

 

Forcible Entry/Ventilation Drill

Sunday November 25th -  Today we held a drill at the old HK Tire building located on Route 27 South.  Training commenced with a walk thru of the building, locating means of egress, by way of exit doors, windows, garage doors as well as breaching thru walls if necessary.  We took turns cutting our way thru garage doors with circular saws, then using the "Key To The City" to pound our way thru entrances and exit doors.  Then we pulled out the automatic chisels and begin taking apart cinderblocks within the building.  During the instruction we saw how this could be used should we need to search for a trapped person within a building when breaching walls is our only means of gaining entry.  Next we made our way up to the roof to begin ventilation training.  There, we were able to run several practice cuts by making ventilation holes on the roof.  Once this was completed, instruction was given on when is it necessary to make a trench cut, in which one was also completed.  Everyone in attendance found the 5 hours of training to be of a great benefit.  Additional pictures will be posted.

 

 

 

 

---

5-Alarm Structure Fire in District 2

Friday November 23rd - This morning at 0852 hours, Ladder 25 was toned out to respond to 68 Gallop Lane - Countryside Apartments for a confirmed working structure fire. The crew of 4 immediately responded to the scene which is in the area of Route 27 in Franklin Park.  Upon our arrival, we were requested to put the platform up to the roof to begin ventilation.  After venting the first roof hole, the fire appeared to have shifted, so another request was made by command to cut another hole on the opposite side of the roof.  While we were in the process of cutting the second hole, heavy smoke begin to build up and all personnel were requested to switch to exterior firefighting mode.  The air horns were then sounded, alerting all firefighters to evacuate the building.  Ladder 25's crew then begin to make their way off of the roof and in the process was able to perform a 3rd cut while being tied in directly to the bucket, above what appeared to be one of the fire rooms.  After this was done, the ladder was descended down to the 2nd floor in which we proceeded to switch to the master stream operation and begin flowing water to knock down a bulk of the fire that had grew rapidly within the building which was visible on the "A" side or front of the structure.  About 1 hour from the initial call, Special Operations-257 responded to the scene with additional manpower from the station.  This stubborn fire was placed under control at approximately 1400 hours.  All departments from Franklin Township were on scene including mutual aid units from Kendall Park, North Brunswick, Manville, Finderne and Hillsborough.  Ladder 25 cleared the scene and arrived back in the district around 1430 hours. This story can also be found in The Home News by clicking here.