On Tuesday November 7th, 2006 around 20:30 United Fire Company along with Montrose EMS was dispatched by communications for the report of heavy smoke in a residence on Potter RD. in Franklin TWP. Crews were already at the station doing some hose load training when the alarm was received. United Tower 3 and Engine 2 responded each with a crew of 5  followed shortly after by the Tanker and Engine 6. while responding communications updated the units stating that the caller had reported that the smoke was coming from the basement but the smoke was to thick to see what was causing it. Also while responding the base contacted the units to report that they had received a call from the scene from a fireman reporting it to be a problem with a wood stove.

Photo By Renee Coy

Photo by Renee Coy

Once the building was ventilated crews were able to find the source of the problem to be a blocked fire place and there was no fire damage to the home however the was quite a bit of smoke damage. The Family was not home at the time of the incident and all of the family pets made it outside. There were no injuries reported and command placed all units in service.  

United 11 (P.Sprout) arrived and established command with communications with a 1 story split level with smoke showing from the basement. Command directed the tower into the driveway holding the engines at the bottom of the drive to establish water supply if needed. The crew from the tower split with 2 making entry into the basement to find the source of the problem and the rest of the crew went to the roof to check the chimney. The Crew from the engine was assigned division 1 to check for extension and also to start ventilation. The tower crew in the basement found the source of the smoke to be coming from the wood stove and put the fire out in the fire box. The roof crew found the chimney to be free of obstructions and fire. The crew on division 1 found heavy smoke but no fire and placed a PPV fan in operation on division 1. 

Movie of the Tower arriving