08-01-2013, 01:15 PM (This post was last modified: 08-01-2013, 01:19 PM by firesafe91.)
Minneapolis crews battled a second alarm fire in a commercial building located at 2812 University Avenue SE late last night. The building housed several businesses including an auto repair business, daycare, and restaurant. It is located near the University of Minnesota campus.
Available light shot showing first-due E19, the salvage/air rig, and E11. Engine 11 would later be moved to the C/D corner of the fire building to put their deck gun into operation after the roof collapsed.
08-01-2013, 10:05 PM (This post was last modified: 08-01-2013, 10:07 PM by firesafe91.)
Another available light shot showing the front of the fire building. Second due Ladder 3 and Rescue 9 are staged. Ladder 3 would later be repositioned outside of the collapse zone. A blitz monitor is being operated between the fire building and the exposure as a water curtain. Although this device had limited penetration, crews kept the fire out of this building.
The fire building had a bowstring truss roof. Crews who made the initial interior attack encountered heavy smoke, high heat and numerous cars inside the building. A decision was made to evacuate the crews and a second-alarm struck. Fire broke through the roof a short time later. The rear of the structure eventually collapsed.
Visible on the right hand side of the photo is a radio tower (reported to be 200-feet tall). It was determined that this tower would fall, but they were unsure of the direction. Bystanders in front of the building were moved and the houses on the street behind the fire building were evacuated. When the tower finally collapsed, it collapsed onto itself within the footprint of the fire building. For a couple of seconds when it stated to fall it appeared to heading for the crews in front of the building. It was quite a site to see the tower come down.
Early evacuation of the building and establishment of a collapse zone for the potential tower collapse were great calls by the command team.
Anyone who has not been to Minneapolis has to go there. Beautiful city, great fre department, super museum and real nice people all around. Easy city to buff and lots to see.
Engine 19 was first-due. This company's station is located nearly across the street from TCF Bank Stadium where the Minnesota Gophers play football and soon to be home to the Minnesota Vikings while my new tax allocation their new stadium is being constructed.
Ladder 2 was the second-alarm truck company. They were positioned in front of the 'B' exposure. Their master stream was used to wet down the roof before being directed at the fire building. Although not visible in this photo, there were some significant fire brands coming off the fire.
08-02-2013, 01:27 PM (This post was last modified: 08-02-2013, 01:28 PM by firesafe91.)
This radio designation for this rig is 'Salvage'. I'm not sure if it carries any salvage equipment, but it is used for air supply and rehab and is staffed each shift with a driver. It responds city-wide on all first-alarm assignments from Station 5 (I think).
Ladder 3's rig was repositioned outside of the collapse zone. They were the first-due truck company. I'm not sure what station they are running out of these days. I had heard a rumor that they were/are running out of the 19s house while some maintenance work is being done on their station.
Tried balancing a little flash with available light for this shot of Engine 1 suppling Ladder 11. This is one of the newer Freightliner/Rosenbauer pumpers in the city.
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