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January 25, 2004
- At 1436 hrs, Tower 501, normally first due truck
on this box, added themselves to mutual box 89-03
for a townhouse fire at 9266 Kristy Drive. Manassas
Park’s single dispatcher, who is over-tasked with
answering 911 calls and dispatching police and fire
units, became overwhelmed and was having
difficulties sending the proper units to the run.
Upon arrival, Wagon 509 found a 3 level, middle of
the row, townhouse with fire involving the entire
basement and most of the first floor, as well as
climbing to the second floor. The Tower's interior
crew immediately went to work searching the fire
building and assisting the two engine companies
inside while the outside crew threw ladders,
ventilated, and started opening up the roof. Crews
had two lines operating on the first and second
floors and two lines in the rear, nevertheless, the
type of construction and cheap materials used in
building these homes allowed the fire to burn out of
control.
Conditions
within the fire building started deteriorating very
rapidly and companies operating inside were taking
quite a beating without making much forward
progress. Command made the decision to order crews
out of the building, mainly due to the instability
of the first floor, and exterior operations began.
Quickly, a second alarm was transmitted for
additional personnel and the fear that the fire
could possibly run the cockloft and light off the
whole row. The additional alarm brought Engine 501
and Foam Engine 501 in addition to other units from
Prince William County. The fire went quickly under
control after that and the Tower cleared at 1756.
Chief 508 had command.
Box Alarm: W509, E508,
W516, T501, C508
Second Alarm: E501,
FE501, W507, E506, T511, R501, R504
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