Fire
in Garage Apartment
Compounded by High Heat & Humidity
Mid-Town – August 7, 2001 – 2:30pm
Less than an hour ago, Evans Center and Village of Angola Firefighters fought a fire in an apartment above a garage that was intensified by trapped heat and stifling exterior conditions. With the temperature near 85 degrees and humidity near 80%RH, working conditions were "less than desirable" for fighting a fire.
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| Brant's
Tanker fed Angola Engine 2 |
Evans
Center Firefighters Mike Dallessandro and Tiger Schmittendorf |
Contents of the apartment were destroyed in the fire |
The fire appeared to have started in an attic space converted into an apartment above a garage at the corner of Lake St. and Greenwood Ave. in the Village of Angola. No one was believed to be in the apartment at the time of the fire.
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| Content damage appeared to be heaviest in this corner | The entire apartment was filled with superheated smoke when firefighters arrived | Significant charring occurred indicating the intensity of the fire |
Evans Center Asst. Chief Bruce Green Jr. assumed command while Asst. Chief John Latimore and Angola Asst. Chief Todd Dybdal managed the operations. Angola Engine 2 went directly to the scene while Evans Center Engine 1 tapped the hydrant about 100 ft. away. Thanks to Brant's Tanker located behind Angola's engine, the firefighters had an adequate water supply despite insufficient water pressure available from the hydrant.
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| Additional charring was identified in the garage below | Village of Angola Police Chief Pat Puckhaber and Asst. Chief John Latimore confer on the possible cause | Clint Soemann and Bruce Green Sr. from Engine 1 tapped the hydrant located about 100 ft. from the fire |
Intense heat from burning and smoldering furniture and contents drenched Evans Center Firefighters Tiger Schmittendorf and Charlie Klepfer III as they ascended a narrow staircase and entered the apartment to knock down the fire. Thick acrid smoke banked down on them and the other firefighters below as a crew from Angola Engine 2 worked hard to cut ventilation holes in the roof to relieve the heat and smoke. Evans Center's thermal imaging camera was used to check for hot spots once the bulk of the fire was extinguished.
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| The fire scene from Lake St. & Glenwood Ave. | A bystander tries out Evans Center's thermal imaging camera after the fire | Lt. Charlie Klepfer picks up tools before heading home |
The cause of the fire is under investigation at the time of web publishing. The firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Village of Angola Police Department, Evans Center and Angola Fire Police, Evans Center Ladies Auxiliary, Rural/Metro Ambulance and Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center.
WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Mike Dallessandra is a member of the Grand Island NY Fire Company who works in the Town of Evans and responds with Evans Center under a continuing cooperative agreement with Grand Island Chief Skip Mrkall and in accordance with NYS Fire Service Laws.
Firefighting is not for everyone – but volunteering can be. Evans Center offers limited duty memberships in the areas of Fire/Rescue only, Fire Police only, Emergency Medical Services Only, Water Rescue only, or Associate only. Associate members support the fire department through administrative, technology, fund-raising, clerical and other non-emergency business functions.
If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact the Evans Center Fire Company at 716/549-1221 or fill our our feedback form or e-mail to: info@ecvfc.org
