Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor As We Enter2022 …

As Fire News welcomes everyone to 2022, I would be remiss if I didn’t pause to look back to December 2021 and offer condolences to the Malveaux family and to the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). Recently, FDNY Firefighter Vincent Malveaux was in training and began to feel ill and lost consciousness during his daily training at the FDNYFire Academy on Randall’s Island. ‘Pablo,’as Malveaux was affectionately known to his classmates, was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he died. As a firefighter, I know the sadness of losing a brother or sister firefighter. Fire News will bring you coverage of the Line of Duty funeral to honor Firefighter Vincent Malveaux in a future edition of our paper.

As we enter 2022, I would like to congratulate all firefighters and officers as you take on your new positions of being a firefighter and a new officer. To all firefighters, especially those firefighters who have some time under their belts, take the time to share your knowledge with your newer members and take the time to offer learning experiences that will help your company officers lead you through the year. New officers should confer with past officers so you don’t repeat the same mistakes that they may have made. As a new leader, never embarrass a member who may seem weak in certain skills. You will soon learn that as a new officer, you now take on the role of being a teacher. Firefighters must practice what they have learned to become proficient in the skills that save lives, including your own. Officers need to make sure every member knows how to use the tools of your trade - firefighting!

Anyone with experience will tell you that going on calls is the easy part of our job. Making sure you and your colleagues know what they are doing is the hard part. Hopefully everyone realizes the importance of drills, training, and truck maintenance. Yes, I said truck maintenance! Saws must start; air packs must work as expected and simple things like making sure the fuel tanks are full is important. When you leave the firehouse after a call, stop, and look around and give thought to anything that requires attention. If you see something is wrong, don’t wait until the next day to make changes.

As an officer, you must set the example and keep the bar raised high, so that your troops are ready for action.

On New Year’s Eve, hug your loved ones, say a prayer for world peace and dust off your training manuals so that you can be the best at what you love to do. Also, remember Firefighter Vincent Malveaux and offer prayers of comfort to his family. In my family, we have a tradition; at the stroke of midnight, we hug one another and start the new year with three foods: herring, lentil soup and rye bread. Yes, I know, to some this sounds horrible. But the symbolism is meaningful. I wish everyone good luck, good health, and prosperity in 2022. Happy New Year and good luck to all!

- Dennis

Cover Story

House Damaged in Nitro

Recently, units from Nitro, St. Albans, TylerMountain and Teays Valley responded to a one-alarm house fire on 33rd Street in Nitro. The house received extensive fire damage and an adjacent house received radiant heat damage. The lone occupant got out safely. The cause was underinvestigation by officials. - Photos courtesy of Nitro FD

Page 8, Fire News, January/February 2022 Sissonville TrailerFire

At 1212 on November9, 2021, the Sissonville VolunteerFire Department Station 26 and Malden VolunteerFire Department Station 3 were alerted fora trailerfire on Thaxton Hollow in area 26. Engine 263 with a crew of one requested Pinch VolunteerFire Department Station 2 foran engine and manpower. The trailerwas fully involved when crews arrived, but the occupants made it out safely before the fire department arrived. There were no injuries and crews cleared about two hours later. Units that responded were Sissonville Engine 263, Engine 264, Malden Engine 32, Utility 3 and Pinch Engine 22. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’Scott, Malden VFD

FireNews.com

Fire News, January/February 2022, Page 9 Abandoned House Fire on Maplewood

Fire units from Nitro, TylerMountain and Institute Fire Departments responded to a structure fire in an abandoned house on Maplewood Drive. The cause of the fire was underinvestigation. - Photos courtesy of Institute Fire Rescue

Page 10, Fire News, January/February 2022 Structure Burns in Wallace

- Photo courtesy of Nutter Fort FD - Photo courtesy of Wallace VFD

At 1533 on November30, 2021, Tankers 7 and 11 (Spelter) were alerted to assist Wallace, Lumberport, Shinnsto and Worthington with a structure fire on Ashcraft Addition Road in Wallace. Tanker 7 responded with two personnel and provided a load of waterand assisted with fire extinguishment. Tanker7 operated on scene foran hourbefore returning to service.

FireNews.com Fire News, January/February 2022, Page 11 Working Fire in Institute

At 1422 on November27, 2021, Institute Fire Rescue members responded to a working structure fire on StoverRoad in Institute. West Side and TylerMountain assisted. - Photos courtesy of Institute Fire Rescue

2 Working Fires in 1 Hour

At 0312 on November9, 2021, Company 1 (Anmoore), Engines 71, and 121 (Stonewood) were alerted fora structure fire on Layton Drive in East View. Engine 72 staffed with fourresponded in three minutes. Engine 11 arrived to find fire in a single-wide trailerwith a built on addition. It was determined the trailerwas unoccupied. Tanker7 and Unit 74 responded with an additional two personnel. Engine 72 arrived on scene right behind Engine 11 and assisted in placing a 1-3/4 inch cross lay in service as well as forcing entry through the front door, finding heavy fire in two rooms of the trailer. Afterclean up, units returned home just before 0600 hours. Anmoore EMS was also on scene. While units operated on the first fire, at 0401, Company 13 (Summit Park), Engines 71 and 121 (Stonewood), and 81 (Reynoldsville) along with HCES were alerted fora structure fire on Jack Run Road in Glen Falls. Engines 112 (Spelter) and 31 (Lost Creek) were added due to two of the original companies working the fire in East View. Engine 71 responded with three personnel in less than five minutes. HCES arrived to fire through the roof of a single-story dwelling. Engines 131 and 71 arrived with Engine 112. Engines 81 and 31 assisted with fire suppression with Engine 31 along with Tankers 3 and 11 performing watershuttle operations. - Photos courtesy of Nutter Fort FD

FireNews.com Fire News, January/February 2022, Page 13 Business Apparently Appropriately Named in Lost Creek

At 1452 hours on November29, 2021, Engines 71 and 511 (Bridgeport) responded fora working structure fire at Diane’s Hotspot on East Main Street in Lost Creek. West Milford, Jane Lew and Johnstown also responded. Engine 72 and Engine 32 arrived to find a single-story structure with fire showing from the roof area and all occupants out. Crews placed a 1-3/4 inch cross lay in service to begin an interiorattack. Engines 153 and Lewis 21 established a watersupply laying in from a nearby hydrant. Engines 72 and 511 arrived on and sent theirmanpowerto place an additional 1-3/4 inch cross lay in service and assist with interiorattack, finding heavy fire in the attic area throughout the structure. - Photos courtesy of Nutter Fort FD

Monongah Structure Fire

On December8, 2021, Monongah volunteers were alerted fora structure fire in the Ford Street area. Captain Slagle arrived to find a working fire in the roof area of a two-story industrial building. Engine 101 responded with a crew of three and arrived to heavy fire in the roof which prevented crews from initially making an interior attack. Crews deployed a 2-1/2 inch attack line. Awatersource was secured from a nearby hydrant which latersupplied waterfor Engine 101 and Harrison Truck 10 which provided an aerial water supply. Crews worked forapproximately 90 minutes before placing the fire undercontrol. Special thanks to assisting companies from Shinnston, Valley, Farmington, Bridgeport, Boothsville, Winfield District and Marion County Rescue Squad and Sheriff’s Department.

- Photos courtesy of Monongah FD