| At 07:49 on Thursday,
November 10th 2005 the Susquehanna County Comm Center dispatched
Springville Fire Company along with Montrose EMS and automatic mutual aid
from United for an engine and tanker for a grain silo fire on SR 3013 in
Springville Twp Susquehanna County. Springville 31 (J. Horn) was the
first officer to arrive on scene at 07:57 reporting that there was smoke
showing from the top of the aprox 50 foot high concrete block structure.
Springville 11 (R. Birchard) arrived about a minute later and assumed
command. After a quick size up of the situation command then requested
that a tanker be dispatched from Elk Lake fire. Command then assigned the
first in engine Springville Engine 2 to lay a 5" supply line from a
pond on the opposing side of the road out to the driveway of the barn and
assigned Springville Tanker to a on scene stand by position. The next in
engine United engine 6 was assigned to water supply and positioned at the
pond. on United Engine 6's arrival it was determined that the lawn was too
soft to get the engine into position. Command made the decision to deploy
2 500gpm portable pumps to supply the water and the Crews from United were
assigned to establish the water supply. Command order all units to
take a defensive stance to get a better size up of the fire.
Renee
Coy Photo
Renee
Coy Photo
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Renee
Coy Photo
Crews determined that the fire had
been burning for several days and there was no extension of the fire
outside of the silo. Using thermal imaging cameras it was determined
that the fire was burning aprox 20 ft up from the bottom of the structure
and it was unclear of the total level of the silage in the silo. Due
to the age and condition of the silo command felt it was to unstable to
place any fire fighter in the structure for further investigation. Command
then requested Trition Fire be dispatched out of Wyoming county to respond
with their Snorkel and foam engine. This request was placed due to both
Springville's foam engine and United's Tower being out of service for
repairs. Crews from Trition arrived and the snorkel was positioned to
reach the top of the silo and the foam engine stretched a line to the
snorkel. A member of Springville and Triton went to the roof and
removed a piece of the tin to get a better look at the situation.
Crews in the bucket reported back to command that the fire was burning in
the middle of the silage. Command then decided to put foam in the silo
from the top to try to reach the seat of the fire but was also concerned
about putting water in to fast could cause the hot concrete structure to
fail. Crews took a 1.75 " line to the top of the Arial and began
slowly flowing a light foam mixture. Command assigned a fire fighter
to each side of the structure outside the collapse zone to monitor for
signs of structural deterioration. crews flowed foam for about an
hour and then backed away to monitor the progress. Crews determined
that the outside temperature of the structure had been reduced and it
looked like the foam had made good penetration. Command reported the fire
out at 12:20 and units began to clear the scene shortly there
after.
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