The fire occured on July 31, 1979. On the actual day of the fire City Council voted to table the new ordinace forbidding wooden shingles despite numerous wood shingle fueled fires and literal conflagrations in the city. The following day City Council voted to approve the new ordinance unanimously and in record time.
The complex as a whole was comprised of 105 individual 2 and 3 story buildings. The complex was in the process of being renovated from apartemnts to condominiums. There had already been 5 multiple alarm fires in the complex since 1971 (Two 3-11 fires and three 2-11 fires) in addition to other fires held to the original dispatched box.
Jeremy your right. After the fire Engine Co. 60 was equipped with 4" LDH as an experiment and trial. HFD went with it after that.
I was incorrect on something I posted earlier regarding Stafford and Missouri City at this fire. For clarification:
On the 5-11 MCFD sent a Booster and Chief to Station #48. On the 7-11 a MCFD Engine Co. responded to the fire. They responded into the north side and were instructed to "Bring your water with you". They never laid and hooked up to a plug and supplied several lines from that position including a ladder pipe.
Stafford also responded on the 7-11 with 1 Engine Co. Upon arrival they laid 1500' of 3" hose (Largest hose on the fireground) from the MCFD pumper on the plug at Voss and Woodway into the fire. They then hooked up and supplied 1 ladder pipe, 1 tele-squrt and 1 400' 1-1/2' handline.
Also interesting to note is that their was only 1 building in the burned out area that survived; Building #42. It was protected by Ladder 68. Thought I would throw that in (Ha ha).
Interesting what other departments responded to this fire:
Cy-Fair, Jacinto City, Northwest, Rosenberg, Kendelton, Pearland, Conroe, Katy, Alief (Community), West Lake, Cloverleaf, Friendswood and Jersey Village.
Info from an excellent book by Dave Miller with pictures by Chuck Buschardt and reports from District Chief Max McRae and Charlie Wilson, Jr.
The complex as a whole was comprised of 105 individual 2 and 3 story buildings. The complex was in the process of being renovated from apartemnts to condominiums. There had already been 5 multiple alarm fires in the complex since 1971 (Two 3-11 fires and three 2-11 fires) in addition to other fires held to the original dispatched box.
Jeremy your right. After the fire Engine Co. 60 was equipped with 4" LDH as an experiment and trial. HFD went with it after that.
I was incorrect on something I posted earlier regarding Stafford and Missouri City at this fire. For clarification:
On the 5-11 MCFD sent a Booster and Chief to Station #48. On the 7-11 a MCFD Engine Co. responded to the fire. They responded into the north side and were instructed to "Bring your water with you". They never laid and hooked up to a plug and supplied several lines from that position including a ladder pipe.
Stafford also responded on the 7-11 with 1 Engine Co. Upon arrival they laid 1500' of 3" hose (Largest hose on the fireground) from the MCFD pumper on the plug at Voss and Woodway into the fire. They then hooked up and supplied 1 ladder pipe, 1 tele-squrt and 1 400' 1-1/2' handline.
Also interesting to note is that their was only 1 building in the burned out area that survived; Building #42. It was protected by Ladder 68. Thought I would throw that in (Ha ha).
Interesting what other departments responded to this fire:
Cy-Fair, Jacinto City, Northwest, Rosenberg, Kendelton, Pearland, Conroe, Katy, Alief (Community), West Lake, Cloverleaf, Friendswood and Jersey Village.
Info from an excellent book by Dave Miller with pictures by Chuck Buschardt and reports from District Chief Max McRae and Charlie Wilson, Jr.
Larry Di Camillo
Fire Chief
Stafford Fire Department
www.staffordfirerescue.org
Engineer/Operator
Houston Fire Department
Ladder Co. 68 "A"
www.firehouse68.com
Fire Chief
Stafford Fire Department
www.staffordfirerescue.org
Engineer/Operator
Houston Fire Department
Ladder Co. 68 "A"
www.firehouse68.com
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