Fire Tech & Safety

Orange Home Damaged by Morning Fire IN SERVICE

ORANGE, CT - A vacant home in Orange was damaged on May 5th by a fire that was quickly brought under control, despite presenting firefighters with some challenges.

Orange volunteer firefighters were dispatched to 753 Mapleview Road in Orange around 6:50 A.M., according to Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas. On arrival, smoke was seen coming from the home’s roof and walls, and flames could be seen inside the single-story home.

“Alert neighbors spotted the smoke and called 9-1-1,” said Dumas. “We had equipment and personnel on the scene within minutes and were able to get inside to find the seat of the fire and extinguish it quickly.”

Firefighters attempted to enter the structure through the front door, but encountered a weakened floor. Access was gained through the rear door and firefighters located the fire in the basement. The fire was brought under control minutes after arrival.

There were no injuries, but the fire caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the basement and first floor of the newly renovated home.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office. The Orange Vol. FD received assistance from the Woodbridge FD. Also on the scene were units from American Medical Response, the Orange Police Department and the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office.

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- DOUG FENICHEL

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ORANGE VFD CHUCK LOWE

Laurel Hill Fire Co. of Norwich runs this 2003 HME/Ferrara 1500GPM pumper. It carries 500-gallons of water, 15 of class A & 15 of class B.

MASSACHUSETTS Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck by Tractor-Trailer in Waltham

WALTHAM, MA - On the morning of May 19th, Waltham’s 911 center received a call for a pedestrian struck by a tractortrailer at Main and Bacon Streets. Engine 4, Rescue 1, and Medics 1 and 2 were dispatched.

Engine 4 arrived on scene and reported a pedestrian down and unconscious. Deputy Chief Roger Hebert requested Medflight, but because it was unable to respond, the pedestrian was transported to Lahey Hospital in Burlington where he later died from injuries sustained.

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- PETER LOBO

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THIS OLD HOUSE

If you have photos you would like to see in our “This Old House” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com

CHUCK LOWE

Salem's North Street Firehouse was built in 1881 as "Hose House 6". This Queen Anne style structure, built by prominent local architect, William D. Dennis, was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2013. It is the oldest active firehouse in the "Witch City" and home to Engine Company 2.

PETER LOBO

JOHN SJOSTEDT

Motorbike Accident with Medflight in Middleborough

MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA - On May 9th, a 15-year-old motorbike rider crashed his bike on Plymouth Street and fractured his femur. EMS evaluated and called for Boston Medflight due to the femur fracture and possible internal injuries. Medflight landed at the scene. The patient was transported by Medflight to Mass General Hospital.

PETER LOBO Car Versus Tree in Waltham

WALTHAM, MA - On May 21st, a report of a car into a tree with two people still in the car at Charles and Moody Streets sent Waltham Engine 1, Squad 5 and Medic 1 to the scene. Engine 1 signed off with two people in the car that did not require extrication; however, two elderly people were transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital as a precaution.

THEN & NOW

If your Department has photos you would like to see in our “Then & Now” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com

Boston Ladder Co. 21, located in East Boston, once ran with a 1972 Maxim-F 100' tractor-drawn aerial. The city stopped purchasing tillered apparatus many years back. The current apparatus assigned to this company is a 2016 E-One Cyclone Metro 100' rear-mounted aerial.

CHUCK LOWE

BFD Ladder 21 of the past.

VENDOR

SPOTLIGHT NEW ENGLAND

KIMTEK Unveils Large Capacity Firelite® FDHP-303-300 Brush Truck Skid Unit

May 25, 2021 – Orleans, VT - KIMTEK has added a large capacity model to its brush truck series skid unit lineup. The new Series FIRELITE® FDHP-303-300 skid unit is desired by departments needing larger water capacity, affordable brush truck units with industry leading Darley Davey Pumps.

To additionally meet departments' specific needs, KIMTEK offers the new 300 gallon model in options that include a patient transport area which can hold a long board or stokes basket or accommodate other optional items that can be added such as storage boxes and supply line trays.

The KIMTEK's FDHP-303-300 Series skid unit is equipped with an electric rewind Hannay 4000 Series reel, 300 gallon fully baffled to NFPA standards poly water tank and integrated 5 gallon foam cell. Pump options include: Davey 6.5, 9, or 13HP or Darley 1.5 AGE 13HX pump. The 300 gallon Series brush truck skid units also include 100’ of 3/4" Booster hose or 50’ of 1’ Boostlite booster hose with nozzle and Scotty Through-the-Pump class A foam system. Also included Mercedes Draftlite Kit – Hydro-Wick Hand Primer installed on skid; 20’ of 1.5” suction hose; Foot Valve / Strainer.

Incorporating KIMTEK's trademark sensible design, the new FIRELITE FDHP-303-300 Series Brush Truck Skid Unit is affordably priced yet produced with the same high-quality materials and workmanship that departments throughout the world expect from KIMTEK. The 300 Series unit incorporates all-aluminum diamond plate construction, aluminum tubing, stainless steel manifold with pressure gauge. All the NFPA fully baffled water tanks are on reinforced aluminum bases with spaces to accommodate a fork lift for easy installation in brush trucks.

About Kimtek Corporation KIMTEK Corporation is the largest producer and marketer of ATV/UTVspecific skid units for public safety agencies in the U.S. KIMTEK's FIRELITE® fire and rescue skid units and MEDLITE® medical skid units are now in service in all fifty U.S. states and across Canada, all branches of the military, the National Park Service, numerous NASCAR tracks, sporting complexes, schools, universities, and in several countries worldwide. KIMTEK Transport skid units are made in the USA. Founded in 1984 as a research and development company dedicated to advances in life safety technology in the fire sciences, KIMTEK Corporation manufactures and markets a full line of FIRELITE and MEDLITE Transport skid units for emergency service UTVs and pick-up trucks. For more information, please contact KIMTEK at 888-546-8358 or visit www.kimtekresearch.com or www.brushtruckskids.com.

KIMTEK®, MEDLITE,® and FIRELITE® are registered trademarks of KIMTEK Corporation.

KIMTEK CORPORATION

IN SERVICE

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CHUCK LOWE

Sandwich Ladder 3 operates this 2019 Ferrara Cinder 77' quint. It can deliver 1750-GPM and has 500-gallons of water on board. The Barnstable County radio designation for this apparatus is "Ladder 453".

CHUCK LOWE

Chicopee Engine 8 operates a 2019 Pierce Saber that has a 750-gallon tank and 1500-GPM pump.

CHUCK LOWE

Worcester Ladder 1 runs out of the Franklin St. Firehouse. They are assigned a 2019 E-One Cyclone II with a 100' aerial.

CHUCK LOWE

Tanker 358 in Mashpee is a 2019 International MV607 4X2 that was built by Emergency One. This apparatus carries 2000-gallons of water and is capable of delivering 500-GPM.

PAT TRAVERS/NEFIREPHOTO.COM

The vehicle came to rest partially in the trench and smashed into a backhoe.

Car Drives into Work Crew, Strikes Backhoe in Whitman

WHITMAN, MA - Around 11:40 A.M. on the morning of Tuesday, May 11th, the Whitman Fire Department was alerted by police officers working a road detail that there was a motor vehicle accident on South Avenue, near Dyer Avenue. Engine-243, Ambulance-249 and Car-3 responded. Companies arrived to find an SUV partially in a trench in the roadway with heavy front end damage after striking a backhoe at a work site.

Whitman Police Officer Christopher Lee was working the detail with two other officers and noticed the operator of a vehicle was slumped over the wheel. When he attempted to check on the driver, the vehicle revved up and started traveling towards officers and the work crew, nearly striking him. Officer Lee quickly alerted the other officers on the detail and the workers on-site and advised them to get out of the way.

All of the workers were able to exit the trench and get out of the way of the vehicle, which struck a backhoe on scene. The vehicle came to rest partially in the trench and smashed against the backhoe. Police officers assisted with medical care until the fire department arrived on scene.

The lone occupant of the vehicle was transported to the South Shore Hospital, with an additional paramedic on-board. The operator suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and it is believed a medical issue may have contributed to the crash.

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- PAT TRAVERS

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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FRANK ROBINSON

Worchester Fire Department used to operate a 1973 Mack CF 75' Aerialscope. The unit is now privately owned.

WOMEN IN FIREFIGHTING

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ROCKY POINT, NY - Meet Caitlin Thrash, cheerleader by day, firefighter by night! moved up to the regular department around the same time she did.

Caitlin is not just your average young lady; she's an inspiration to many. Caitlin is a senior at Shoreham-Wading River High School, and in addition to her studies and being on the cheer squad at school, she also has other very important responsibilities. When asked about whether the guys treat her differently because she's a female, she said they don't. She did however admit that some of the training can be a little tough so she has to work harder, but her friends and fellow department members are super supportive.

Caitlin is currently a probationary member in the Rocky Point Fire Department Company #3. She originally joined the fire service around the age of 14 when one of her neighbors, who is a chief in the department, struck up a conversation with her about the department's Junior Firefighter program. Little did she know that this would lead to bigger things. Caitlin had her first working fire in April of this year and when asked if she was nervous about it, she said that though the heat was something to get used to, the training she had done prior in the Juniors Program and regular department definitely helped ease her nerves. The very next evening the department had another house fire and she saw some more action.

Now a few years later, Caitlin is one of just a handful of female members in the department, most of whom are EMTs. She joined the department as a probationary member in October of 2020. I was able to sit down with Caitlin recently to discuss her involvement in the fire service, as well as how she balances it all.

Caitlin said she was originally a little nervous when she first joined the Junior Program a few years ago, but that changed after she built great relationships with the guys in the program, some of whom had Though right now she is balancing her school, work and volunteer schedules, Caitlin plans on sticking with the fire service as a volunteer and eventually aspires to work her way up the ranks into being an officer.

Caitlin's advice for any fellow women who may want to join the fire service but are nervous is to just try it, and if need be join with a friend. “The more women the better!”, says Caitlin. For her, she said it was one of the best decisions she ever made, and she has made many great relationships because of it.

JOHN WALTHERS- SUFFOLK FIRE PHOTOS

Rocky Point FD Co. 3 Probationary FF Caitlin Thrash is a senior at Shoreham-Wading River High School where she's also a cheerleader, but on nights and weekends she can be seen battling fire! Caitlin's pictured here at a working fire on April 10th.

PAT TRAVERS/NEFIREPHOTO.COM

Whitman Firefighters Chris Donahue, Scott Figgins, Steven Foster and Lieutenant Nick Grasso pose with mom Erica Rodriquez and baby Nathan McCarthy at their meeting on May 7th.

Whitman Firefighters Assist With Special Delivery

WHITMAN, MA - Around 3:58 A.M. on the morning of Wednesday, May 5th, the Whitman Fire Department responded to a nearby residence for a report of a woman in labor. When firefighters arrived, they realized quickly that the birth was imminent. Lieutenant Nick Grasso, along with Firefighters Steven Foster, Scott Figgins, Chris Donahue and Jerry Thompson, all paramedics, quickly set up a sterile area for the birth to occur. Shortly after firefighters' arrival, at approximately 4:06 A.M., baby boy Nathan McCarthy was born in the family's house. Mom, Erica Rodriquez, and baby Nathan were then transported to the South Shore Hospital, where the birth was supposed to be taking place in about two weeks. Nathan is a healthy baby boy who weighed in at 7lbs., 9oz.

On Friday, May 7th, baby Nathan, along with father, brother and sister came into the Whitman Fire Station to visit the five firefighters who assisted in his birth. Some of the firefighters noted that this was the first field birth that they had been involved with, but their training kicked in and they were able to assist with the delivery without any problems. Firefighters and the family stated they were both happy to meet each other on Friday in a less stressful situation. The family is back home and resting comfortably.

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- PAT TRAVERS

STILL IN SERVICE

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