Unknown fire

06112010

*Over EAT*

We've got a 911 call from a nearby home, a large Cube van is reported burning near some brush, possible spread. Unknown cause, treat as suspscious. If any evidence is found, secure, note location, and move to safety. Request PD if neccessary. RP reports burning brush near the truck, however it has not spread to the larger area as of yet. Be advised, high risk of spread due to lack of rain.

Time: 0025h
Weather: Approaching T-storms, ETA 10 hours out. High winds coming in at around 0200h
Concerns: Unknown victims, possible arson, brush fires with high winds equal forest fires
Mutual Aide available. ERT may supply units, but all other emergency services are unavailable. TVFD is unable to respond due to a mass training cleared by us, and PFD is fighting a large warehouse fire in the industrial district.
COPA Main contact: DC Burke, Officer Daniels will be secondary dispatcher.

(please alert of time responding as well as all events until truck leaves station!)

"ladder 1 on scene one vehicle fullyinvolved."
*i put it in park climb out and put a SCBA bottle on*
"COPA you may want to start 1 pd unit for traffic"

"Squad 1 to COPA, we're on scene." [0033h] I say and get out of the squad

I grab an SCBA and put it on. 'Shall I put on some extra lights?'

*Jansen pulls up the squad behind the ladder and I throw on my BA just in case. Then I get out. I take a look at the fire to see what we're up against. I realize that the van door is open on the driver's side and so is the back.*

"Squad 1 on scene! Driver's and back door are open on the van, possible arson, but it looks like all occupants are out."

'Jansen, I'll get a chainsaw and begin cutting down some of the brush before it catches fire. You, pull a crosslay and try to contain the brush fire before it spreads any further!'

((Hey Burke, what direction is the fire spreading as of right now?))

*i put the lights up on the ladder, then grab a cross lay with CAFS charge it then put my mask on and start spraying foam on the van*

*I begin cutting down a small tree. It falls and I move to some bushes. I stomp them down and move to some more small trees.*

'Got it!'

*I pull a crosslay and charge it. Then I try to contain the brush fire*

'It's looking good Davis, we need to quickly put water on the van before the fuel tank explodes!'

'OH geez, you're right! Bruce is already putting foam in it though.'

*I move to the last section of small bushes and trees and begin to stomp on them and cut them down. Then I grab a shovel and move the cut down trees father away from the fire.*

'Okay, this brush is almo..WHOA! never mind its flaring up again. whats the ETA on the Pumper?'

* I keep extingiushing the brush fire *

*I put down my shovel and charge a crosslay for myself. Then I run over be Jansen to help him with the fires.*

'OK, I'm gonna help you with this. You take the right and I'll take the left while Bruce keeps putting foam on the van.'

((LOL, I don't think the pumper even responded yet! ))

'Sure'

I get the right side of the fire and put it out, after that I continue to wet it down.

'My side is out, should we help Beard with the van and overhaul it when he's done?'

'Yeah sure, let me just get these last few trees.'

*I begin to extnguish a large tree on my side.*

'If I break open the hood, can you put water in it? When your're done ofcourse'

(( If P11 doesnt respond quick we fix this with just 3 men ))

((Yeah, I know!))

*I move to the last tree.*

'Almost done, let me just get this tree.'

'Okay, Im getting the halligan tool and circular saw for the hood'

I walk to the squad and get the saw and halligan. 'let me know when your're ready. Im putting on my BA'

*I finish up on the last tree and pull my crosslay over by Jansen.*

'Alright, I'm all ready. Cut it!'

*I aim my hose at the hood and get ready.*

* I start the saw and cut a V shape at the lock of the hood, then I grab my halligan*

'1,2,3 *I pop it open and some flames come out* You need a 2nd crosslay?'

((remember not to rush through the call.... If you guys finish before p-11 arrives, I'm not going to be pleased.))

"Any indication of cause?"

((I'l wait for P11 to be on scene))

((Why not just extend the call?))

*I almost have the fire knocked down, but suddenly something blows in the back of the van and it catches fire to some more of the trees.*

'OH, no! Jansen, help me with this until the pumper arrives!'

*I begin to extiguish the brush fire again.*

((Kinda corny, but yeah that kinda idea.))

"Fire units, do we have any indication of cause, victims or anything?" ((If the plates are still there, I'd like those!))

((I was thinking of something like that ))

'O my, Let me get my crosslay'

"COPA, no one is inside the van, looks like arson, fire is flaring up. the van's plate is: 666PIY


* I help Davis with the bushes*

((So what, it keeps the call going.))

'I hope the winds don't pick up soon, otherwise we're screwed!'

'Looks like its picking up, I'll ask the DC if he has any info about the wind'

"Jansen to COPA, do you have any info about the wind? It feels like its getting stronger"

"Pumper 11 on scene."
*I jump out and get my SCBA on and throw a shovel over my shoulders and drag out a crosslay and charge it.*
'Sorry guys, caught in traffic. Did you make a fire line yet? don't want this to spread too much.'
*I walk over to the trees on fire and start spraying.*

'Finnally! Yeah, I cleard some trees and brush so that the fire won't spread. Just make sure the brush fire doesn't spread, then we can focus on the van. Bruce is still putting foam on it.'

*I keep spraying my side of the fire as the wind starts picking up.*

(Your savior is here)
*I pull my crosslay to ahead of the squad and get the trees in front so I could push the fire back.*
'How many trees did you cut down?'

'Enough to keep the fire back for now. Now that you're here, I'll cut down more.'

*I get the chainsaw again and begin cutting down another medium sized tree.*

'Can I put my attention on the van now?'

'Sure.'

*I cut down another small tree.*

'Watch out for them!'
*As Davis cuts down trees, I spray the small bushes and big trees.*
(God mod me, gotta go to work( ride-along))

I extinguish the engine of the van and the front seats

'OK good, I'll focus on these trees. The winds are starting to pick up, so we gotta move fast!'

*I cut down one more medium tree.*

"Attention units, forecast is calling for winds to increase heavily within 20 minutes. We need full force on the trees and work into the truck. Trees are the threat. Clearcut if needed"

'Copy that. I'll keep cutting!'

*I begin to cut down another large tree.*

"10-4"
*I start working on the trees and start extinguishing faster.*
'Imma need someone to get a line out here to make this quicker.'
*I extinguish a tree then work on another one.*
'Alright this is being pushed back now. We got six trees left here guys. Let's take it from the outside and work in.'

'Hurry, we don't have much time. Do you want me to get a line?'

'Yeah, cut that last tree, that should make a good stopping point for the fire. Come back with a line a wet it. Don't forget to bring out a supply line.'

'Alright, will do. Do you want the supply line to the pumper or squad?'

*I begin cutting the last tree.*

My cell phone rings, and when I answer, it's the TVFD chief on the line.
'Hey, heard you got a fire out there on the interpass'
'yeah, my boys are taking care of it, I hope... Wind's picking up, say I need your boys, how long till I can get them?'
'That's the problem, unless it's a forest fire, I can't give you them... Now if you start to run low on water, my son is free right now, and could run back and forth with the tanker?'
'Thanks, Bill is his name right?'
'Yeah, you trained him in the city wide Emergency course., Remember?'
'Yeah, thanks again for your help, I'll give you a ring if I need you and I'll tone him on his pager'
I hang up

"How's the water situation? Running too low?"

"Well, we're gonna need a supply sooner or later. Yeah, it's running a little low."

"Uhhh...we have only one hydrant here."
'Squad 1 take it.'
"The other one is two blocks away. I could try to get my supply down there but unless someone wants to take my line, I can't do it sir."
'I'm 1/4's empty now. Take the water from the hydrant Davis and help me out here. We only have 5 trees left.'

"Coordinate with command and advise when a decision is made"

((Sorry, movies, watched 2 tonight now you guys can give me the report though since you've been doing stuff with no overhead))
"Okay, what do we have right now?"

"The van is almost out, I'm gonna overhaul it soon"

'Garcia, the van is almost out. I''ve been cutting down trees while Jansen has been extinguishing them. I'm gonna run a supply line from the hydrant to the squad. Maybe it's possible to run a line from hydrant -> squad, squad -> pumper...'

*I grab some hose off the truck, attach it to the hydrant and truck, open the hydrant with the wrench, and let the water flow. Then I cut down the last tree, grab my line, and help extinguish the tree fires.*

Lt, we're running out of water here. Looks like the pumper 1/20 empty now. Can't go on for too long here.'
*I extinguish that tree and go on to the next one.*
'Guys if we keep This up, we should have this done before the wind picks up.'

'The van is out, gonna overhaul it know. If someone could help it would be great!'

I grab a halligan and start tearing the van apart searching for any hotspots

*I keep spraying the fire and take out another tree then go at another tree.*
'Lt., we have three trees left.'

*I pull an 1 1/2" and fog down the surrounding areas around the trees*

"i've got ya' covered hannahan!"