6-23-14 2nd Alarm with Jumpers

[Guest]

Just after 1 a.m. MetCom dispatched South Metro Engine 31 & Tower 35 to an automatic fire alarm from an apartment complex at 6550 South Dayton Street.  Within moments numerous 911 callers reported a building on fire with people trapped and jumping.  Tower 35 left their station a few miles away, could see the flames and transmitted a 2nd Alarm.  Upon arrival they found a large, 3 story garden apartment with a common stairwell fully engulfed and extending.  Engine 31 advanced a 2 1/2" for transitional attack.  While conducting a 360 Tower 35 discovered several injured occupants who had jumped from the 2nd and 3rd floors.  

 

My wife Rachel was with me and took most of these photos as I got committed to working.  The first critical patient was being transported as we walked up and a second was being wheeled to a waiting medic unit.

   

 

3 attack lines had been placed by the time we arrived and had made good headway, but fire already extended into the attic.

   

 

 

[Guest]

Companies performed VES in the units directly exposed due to the stairwell being structurally unsafe.  All searches were clear.

   

 

Engine 33 getting a supply established to Tower 32 on the alpha side.

   

[Guest]

After the searches were complete, interior crews tried to gain control of the attic fire but the roof structure started to collapse.  A withdraw order was given by command and a transition to defensive strategy was ordered.

   

 

   

[Guest]

Tower 32's aerial getting into position...

   

 

   

[Guest]

Tower 32 getting a knock on the attic.

   

 

View from the A/D corner.

   

[Guest]

Tower 35 opens up from the charlie side, over a neighboring building...

   

 

The initially reported address was Building D where Tower 35 and Engine 31 set up and could see fire from the rear.  As it turned out the building on fire was "G" located behind this one and up a steep hill.  Engine 31 & Medic 31 had to advance their 2 1/2" through this building to start fire attack.  Tower 35 had to lob water over this building to it the involved one.

   

[Guest]

After the attic fire was controlled, companies made their way back to the 3rd floor to complete secondary searches and overhaul.  Here Rescue 34 cautiously works on the 3rd floor landing...

   

 

Rescue 34's Lieutenant doing some face to face with crews on the ground.  The multi-level roof lines made communicating the location of small pockets of fire difficult.

   

[Guest]

Overall roof structure damage...

   

 

Medical Branch & EMS Staging was located one building away and had calmed down considerably by this point.  8 people had to be transported, mostly with traumatic injuries and smoke inhalation.

   

[Guest]

Last photo, Level 2 Staging on Dayton Street north of Arapahoe Road

   

 

Apparatus...

 

Fire Alarm - E31 & TW35

 

1st Alarm - BC32, BC34, BC45, IDT2, SAFETY3, M31, TW32, M32, E33, E14, E42, R34

 

2nd Alarm - BC41, BC6, E44, E15, E62, TW45, M34

 

Special Call - C3, OPS31, E41, E46, M42, M37, M63, A107, A106, M44, M36, REHAB 12, AIR/LIGHT 151

 

[Guest]

Great shots. Hope everyone is going to be ok.

[chief60]

Great Shots! Sounds and looks like a good stop.

[hank]

Good photos!

 

tHANKs

[gmuhr]

Nice work!