| The volunteers of the Riverhead Fire Department have had a pretty busy year, probably the busiest ever. This past week our emergency response total surpassed the previous record of 1009 that was set in 2005. And there is still almost three-weeks to go in 2010. While not every alarm gets posted to our website, rest assured that the RFD is on the job 24/7/365, doing our best to keep our community safe.
This past weekend we received numerous calls that, left undiscovered, could have had serious consequences for both life and property. And even though they weren't serious enough to warrant a full story, we offer this quick synopsis of a typical RFD volunteers weekend. Well... almost typical.
Starting on Friday morning, at 8:57 AM, we were called out on a Signal-23, odor of gas, in the Zales store, located in Tanger-1. Dispatch recommended that the caller have the store evacuated immediately. First on-scene was Lieutenant Pipczynski, who confirmed the presence of gas, and reported to arriving Chief 6-2-33. Both KeySpan and the Riverhead Town Fire Marshall were then called-in for assistance. Engines 6-2-1 and 6-2-4 were on-scene, along with Tower Ladder 6-2-6 and Chief 6-2-32. All other responders were put on standby nearby or at their respective stations. After a short investigation, it was discovered that a supply line on the stores gas-fired heating system was leaking. The line was shut down, the store was ventilated, and all units were dismissed at 9:39 AM.
Then on Saturday, at 11:31 AM, we responded to a reported Signal-13, chimney fire, on Old Farm Road. First on-scene found no fire, but the home was full of smoke and the resulting high levels of potentially deadly Carbon Monoxide (CO). Chiefs on-scene were 6-2-31, 32 and 33. The cause was found to be a puff-back of the homes oil-fired heating system. Multiple fans were set-up to vent the smoke outside by the crews of arriving Engines 6-2-1, 6-2-3 and 6-2-4. After a short while, the incident was turned over to the Riverhead Town Fire Marshall, and we were returning to quarters at 12:41 PM
Just a few hours later, at 2:56 PM, we received another call for odor of gas, this time outside the Zumiez store in Tanger-2. All Chiefs were soon on-scene. The heating unit on the stores roof was discovered to be the cause, and secured by the crew off first-arriving Engine 6-2-4. Engines 6-2-1 and 6-2-2 were put on standby out front. A Signal-5, end of alarm, was called at 3:36 PM.
Still on Saturday, at 11:22 PM, the pagers of RFD volunteers activated for a reported Signal-12, brush fire, on Fern Road in Calverton. Even with the now frigid temperatures, all three of our open crew Brush-trucks, 6-2-12, and GI-Rigs 12A and 12B, responded along with Engine 6-2-1 and Chiefs 6-2-30, 31 and 33. Upon our arrival, we found a quickly growing fire being kept at-bay by a neighbor with a garden hose. With 3,500 gallons of combined tank water immediately available, the fire was quickly knocked down and extinguished. All units were heading home at 12:03 AM.
Then, at 2:47 AM, we were awoken for a reported Signal-23, odor of gas, at a residence on Rose Court in Calverton. Engines 6-2-1 and 6-2-4 responded along with 75' Quint 6-2-5 and Chiefs 6-2-30, 31 and 33. First arriving units confirmed the presence of gas. A quick investigation found the cause to be a top-burner on the gas stove being slightly open. The home was ventilated, and we cleared at 3:03 AM.
After being up at 3 AM, any hope of a Sunday morning sleep-in ended at 8:43 AM with a call for the rekindle of the town holiday bonfire behind the old Sears Roebuck store on Main Street. Engine 6-2-1 and GI-Rig 6-2-12A responded along with all Chiefs. These fires are almost always expected, because the ground absorbs a tremendous amount of heat from the large volume of fire. Then, overnight, all the moisture steams away, and any available fuel leftover starts burning again as soon as it reaches its ignition-point temperature. All units cleared at 9:11 AM.
Later that afternoon, at 4:31 PM, we received a call for Heavy Rescue, at a reported Signal-23, motor vehicle accident, on Roanoke Avenue, near Northern Parkway. It was a head-on collision between a Saturn sedan and an SUV, with multiple occupants still trapped. Heavy Rescue Truck 6-2-11 responded along with Engine 6-2-1 and all Chiefs. Traffic vehicles 6-2-10 and 10A shut down the street from the Route-58 circle to Cranberry Street until a Signal-5, end of alarm, was called at 5:12 PM.
This call was logged as number 1051 for the year, which is already 42 more than the previous record of 1009, which was set in 2005, and there is still seventeen days left in 2010... Let's all hope we get a two-week vacation!
local media coverage: http://www.riverheadlocal.com/component/content/article/40-/1466-riverhead-firefighers-answered-record-number-of-alarms-in-10 |
