DUNKIRK PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

1/14/11 0831 HRS - AMTRAK TRAIN STRIKES TRACTOR TRAILER AT MIDDLE ROAD CSX TRACKS - FATAL

At 0831 hours on Wednesday morning, Dunkirk Police and Fire received a report that a train had struck a tractor trailer at the CSX Railroad crossing on Middle Road. Engine 3 FF.Wright was the first FD unit onscene. The driver of the tractor trailer died from the incident. The train was a loaded AMTRAK passenger train, which suffered damage to the lead engine but fortunately nobody on the train was injured. The Lucas Tool from Ladder 1 was used to extricate the victim from the truck cab. Reserve Engine 2, Dunkirk Police, CSX Police, Amtrak Police, New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriffs, East Dunkirk Fire, Chautauqua County Fire Police, and Alstar EMS assisted with the incident. The #3 shift was on duty for the incident, and Captain Allen Loeb and Chief Keith Ahlstrom were in command. All FD units were clear the scene just before 1100 hours. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, C2-Captain Loeb, R1-Lt.Trzaska/FF.Thomas, E3-FF.Wright, E4-FF.Kucharski, L1-FF.Barter, Off duty crew: E2-FF.Trippy, Lt.Hanlon, FF.P.Ossman, FF.K.Ossman, FF.Thompson, FF.Pencek, HQ:Lt.Hyland, and FF.Meyer. (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER, RANDY BARNETT, and OBSERVERTODAY.COM.) LINK TO OBSERVER ARTICLES 1 2 3

1/31/11 0015 HRS - STRUCTURE FIRE - 319 WASHINGTON AVE. ST. VINCENTS HOME

At 0015 hours Fire HQ received a report of a commerical fire alarm activation at St. Vincents Nursing Home. Arriving crews discovered heavy smoke in the northern section of the building. Crews assisted residents to safety and quickly extinguished the fire, which was a fully involved large clothes dryer in the laundry room. A water can and 1 1-3/4" hand line were used to contain the fire. Numerous fans were used to ventilate the building. Crews also evaluated multiple residents after moving them to safety, and one patient was treated and transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital via Alstar EMS. All units were clear the scene 1 hour from dispatch time. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The #3 shift was on duty and Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrom was in Command. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, R1-Lt.Trzaska/FF.Trippy, E1-FF.Thomas, E3-FF.Wright, E4-FF.Michalski, L1-FF.Stern.

2/4/11 2046 HRS - HOUSE FIRE - 523 LEOPARD STREET

At 2046 hours on Friday evening, crews were dispatched to a report of a possible kitchen fire. Crews remained on scene for over an hour. The fire was extinguished utiliting (1) 1 3/4" Hand line. The # 2 shift was on duty for the incident, and Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrrom was incident command. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, R1-Lt.Katta, E1-FF.J.Ellman, E3-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Kujawa, L1-FF.K.Ahlstrom. PHOTOS BY PAUL SZACH - FACEBOOK LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM

2/10/11 1515 HRS - HOUSE FIRE - 34 ST. HEDWIGS AVENUE

At 1515 hours, HQ received a report of a house fire at the address above located in "G.S.A." Engine 4 FF Kujawa arrived onscene first and found a resident evacuating a 2 1/2 story occupied house with smoke and fire in the second floor. (1) 1 3/4" and (1) 2 1/2" lines were used to quickly bring the fire under control. Extensive overhaul and salvage operations kept firefighters onscene for short of one hour. Engine 2 and off duty manpower assisted at the scene, The #2 shift was working and the Incident Commander was Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrom. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, R1-Lt.Katta, E1-FF.J.Ellman, E3-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Kujawa, and L1-FF.Kevin Ahlstrom, Off Duty crew: C2-Capt.Loeb, E2-FF.Kucharski, and FF.Pencek, Dispatch- FF.Trippy, Scene:Lt.Hanlon, Lt.Edwards, FF.Muscato, FF.Kirell, FF.Thomas, FF.Meyer, FF.K.Ossman, and FF.Barter. (PHOTOS BY PAUL TRIPPY AND ALLEN HOLLANDER) LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM

2/22/11 0311 HRS - FATAL HOUSE FIRE - 423 COLUMBUS AVENUE

At 0311 hours on Tuesday morning, Fire HQ received a report of a house fire. Heavy smoke and fire could be seen from blocks away. Lt. Katta arrived on location in Rescue 1 reporting heavy fire from a 2 1/2 story occupied residence. There was a report of possible entrapment in the second floor apartment of a 2 family house. Crews were faced with a heavy volume of fire in the rear second floor, and the fire had already self vented through the roof. Crews quickly knocked down the main body of fire and initiated a primary search. Crews found an unconscious victim in the second floor, and removed the victim down a ladder on the front porch roof. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 750' of 1 3/4" and 400' of 2 1/2" attack lines from Engine 1 and Engine 4 were used to eventually fully extinguish the fire. Engine 3 supplied the other 2 engines utilizing 600' of 5" supply line from the nearest adequate fire hydrant at East Fourth and Deer. Fredonia Engine 14 stood by at Fire HQ, and Alstar EMS was stood by at the fire scene. The cause of the tragic fire is under investigation. When crews left the scene, the temperature was 0 degrees. The #2 shift was working for the fire, and the Incident Commander was Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrom. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, R1-Lt.Katta, E1-FF.J.Ellman, E3-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Kujawa, and L1-FF.Kevin Ahlstrom, Off Duty crew: Dispatch-Lt.Hyland, C2-Capt.Loeb, Lt.Hanlon, Lt.Edwards, FF.Muscato, FF.Kirell, FF.Thomas, FF.Wright, FF.Michalski, FF.Meyer, FF.K.Ossman, FF.Kucharski, FF.Trippy, FF.Barter, and FF.Thompson. (PHOTOS BY PAUL TRIPPY AND WIVB.COM) LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM

07/11/11 1502 Hrs - STRUCTURE FIRE 515 SWAN STREET

Shortly after 1500 hours, HQ received a report of a structure fire at a Doctors Office on Swan Street. Rescue 1 Lt. Matthew Hanlon arrived initially reporting smoke showing from a 2 1/2 story building. One 1 3/4" Hand line was used from Engine 1. The fire was in the exterior "C" side of the building, and was quickly spreading up the siding and into the building which was occupied and operating at the time. All individuals made it out unharmed and the fire was quickly extinguished. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Captain Allen Loeb was in Command, and the #1 shift was working. Crew on duty: C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Hanlon, E1-FF.Muscato, E3-FF.Trippy, E4-FF.Kujawa, L1-FF.Kirell, Off duty: Dispatch-Lt.Hyland, Scene-FF.Thompson LINK TO OBSERVER STORY LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY PAUL SZACH AND PAUL TRIPPY)

07/12/11 2324 Hrs - HOUSE FIRE 25 CROOKED BROOK LANE

On Tuesday evening, HQ received a report of a house fire at the address above. Crews arrived with smoke showing from a 2 1/2 story dwelling. Two 1 3/4" hand lines were used to extinguish the fire in the basement which had minimal extension a first floor wall. Engine 3 supplied Engine 1 with 500' of supply line from the hydrant at Beach Rd. and Crooked Brook Lane. Captain Allen Loeb was in command of the incident. The cause remains under investigation, three residents escaped the fire unharmed due to smoke detector activations, and the #1 shift was working. Crew on duty: C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Hanlon, E1-FF.Thompson, E3-FF.Thomas, E4-FF.Piglowski, L1-FF.Kirell, Off duty: Dispatch-Lt.Hyland, Scene-Lt.Trzaska, FF.Kucharski, FF.Kujawa, FF.Stern, and FF.Barter.

LINK TO OBSERVER STORY LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY GIB SNYDER III -OBSERVER AND PAUL SZACH

07/15/11 2218 Hrs - HOUSE FIRE 113 SOUTH GAZELLE ST

On Saturday evening, multiple calls were received reporting a house fire at the address above. Engine 3 (Reserve Engine 2) Firefighter Patrick Ossman arrived within one minute from dispatch as he was returning from another incident and reported a working fire in a 2 story vacant dwelling. One 1 3/4" hand line was used to quickly extinguish the fire which was in the rear of the structure. The last unit cleared the scene at 2250 hours. There were also 3 other incidents in the city at the same time keeping crews very busy. Captain Allen Loeb was in command of the incident, and the #2 shift was working. The cause of the fire was determined to be due to human involvement. Crew on duty: C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Katta, E1-FF.J.Ellman, E3/E2-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Barter, and L1-FF.Kevin Ahlstrom. Off duty crew: Dispatch-Lt.Hyland, Scene-FF.Muscato, FF.Meyer, and FF.Kirell.

LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY THE OBSERVER, AMBER SZOPINSKI, AND PAUL TRIPPY)

08/21/11 1404 Hrs - GARAGE FIRE 417 EAGLE STREET

After a severe thunderstorm came through the city approximately an hour before, Dunkirk Fire Dispatch received a report of a garage fire. Initial units arrived within a minute, reporting a fully involved 2 story garage with an exposure problem on the D side. (2) 1 3/4" and (1) 2 1/2" Lines were used from the exterior to extinguish the fire due to partial roof collapse months before the incident and poor structural integrity. Later in the incident, Ladder 1's Ladder Pipe was used to finish overhaul operations. There were no injuries, and the cause is currently under investigation. The #2 Shift was on duty for the fire, Engine 2, Off Duty manpower and an EMS unit from Fredonia Fire was requested at the scene by Incident Commander Captain Allen Loeb. 2 minutes into the fire, there was a report of a vehicle fire on Lakeshore Drive. Engine 4 diverted to that scene. 20 minutes later multiple calls were received for a report of a garage fire in the vicinity of South Zebra St. That call was deemed as good intent. The busy day continued as crews quickly extinguished a small fire at 1740 hours inside a residence on South Zebra St, apparently unrelated to the first Zebra incident. Crew on duty: C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Trzaska, E1-FF.J.Ellman, E3-FF.Thompson, E4-FF.Kujawa, L1-FF.Stern, Off duty: E2-FF.T.Ellman, Scene: Lt.Edwards, Lt.Hyland, FF.Kirell, FF.Meyer, FF.Kucharski, FF.Trippy, and FF.Barter.

LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY PAUL SZACH, MIKE MLECKZO AND PAUL TRIPPY)

08/30/11 1324 Hrs - RUBBISH FIRE NEXT TO A HOUSE - 311 CANARY STREET

Early Tuesday afternoon, calls were received and a smell of smoke was noticed at Fire HQ on Eagle St. Car 2 Captain Allen Loeb arrived within seconds reporting a working rubbish pile fire next to a structure. One 1 3/4" Line was used to quickly extinguish the fire, and the cause of the fire is undetermined. Crews left the scene in approximately 20 minutes. The #2 shift was working for the incident and Chief Keith Ahlstrom was in command. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, C2-Capt.Loeb, R1-Lt.Katta, E1-FF.Pencek, E3-FF.P.Ossman, E4-FF.Kujawa, L1-Barter,

LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY PAUL TRIPPY)

9/13/11 2053 HOURS - FIRE ON ROOF OF COMMERCIAL BUILDING - 435 MAIN STREET

While Rescue 1 was on an EMS call, the remaining units were dispatched for a report of a fire on the roof of the Graf Realty Building on Main Street. Ladder 1 FF. Todd Ellman was the first unit on scene reporting a small fire on the roof. The fire was quickly extinguished with a water can, and tools, ladders, and a thermal imaging camera was used. The cause of the fire was determined to be from fireworks in the area. There was no damage to the building and all units were clear of the scene in 30 minutes. Lt. James Hyland was in command of the incident, and the #4 shift was on duty. On Duty Crew: R1-Lt.Hyland/FF.J,Ellman, E3-FF.K.Ossman, E4-FF.Kucharski, L1-FF.T.Ellman, Off Duty Crew: E1-Lt.Edwards, Scene: Lt.Hanlon, FF.Meyer, and FF.Thompson. LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER)

9/17/11 0851 HOURS - CHIMNEY FIRE - 535 BRIGHAM ROAD

All units were dispatched to a report of a chimney fire on Brigham at West Sixth. Crews arrived to a chimney fire, and utilized the aerial ladder and chains to extinguish the fire. The #3 shift was working for the incident, and Lt. Michael Edwards was in command. On Duty Crew: R1-Lt.Edwards, E1-FF.Thomas, E3-FF.Wright, E4-FF.Michalski, and L1-FF.Stern. LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER)

10/27/11 0055 hrs. - VACANT WAREHOUSE FIRE - 320 SOUTH ROBERTS ROAD FORMER EDGEWOOD WAREHOUSE After 2 trash fires inside the vacant former Edgewood Warehouse in the past week, the last one only hours before, Crews were dispatched for another fire inside the structure. Engine 3 FF. Patrick Ossman arrived with heavy fire conditions that had partially collapsed the roof in the northeastern section of the warehouse extending rapidly. Multiple 2 1/2" and 1 3/4" lines were deployed as well as master streams from Engine 4 and Ladder 1. The building has been vacant for years, and has been the site of many previous fires. All units clear of the scene at 0346 hours, and the cause was determined to be human involvement. The #2 shift was working for the incident and the I.C. was Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrom. 1100' of 5" supply line was used to supply the firefighting effort from the closest hydrant at East Talcott and South Roberts where Engine 1 was. Reserve Engine 2 was put into service at HQ, and responded to other calls in the city along with Fredonia Engine 14. Alstar EMS also stood by on scene for EMS support.

On Duty Crew: C1:Chief Ahlstrom, R1:Lt.Katta, E1:FF.J.Ellman, E3:FF.P.Ossman, E4:FF.Kujawa, and L1:FF.Pencek. Off Duty Crew:E2:FF.Meyer, Lt.Hanlon, FF.Thomas, FF.K.Ossman, FF.Kucharski, and FF.Trippy. LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY PAUL TRIPPY)

11/25/11 2052 hrs. - VAN STRIKES TREE AND VACANT HOUSE 142 MAPLE AVENUE

While 2 units were on an EMS call nearby, all units were dispatched to a report of a vehicle striking a house on Maple near East Seventh. (Route 60) Rescue 1 Acting Lt. Thomas and FF. Trippy arrived within a minute of dispatch, and found a new Dodge Caravan with major damage that had struck a tree and a vacant house. The driver of the van apparently wasn't able to negotiate a curve in the road, and struck a neighbors garbage, luckily barely missed a telephone pole and tree, and struck a tree spinning the vehicle into the house. The driver was the only person inside the vehicle and was in critical condition, with his left leg trapped underneath the wreckage of the vehicle. Advanced Life Support was called immediately from the Fredonia Fire Department, and a helicopter was called to respond to the Alstar EMS helipad blocks away. The driver was worked up inside of the vehicle by DFD EMT Trippy and FFD Medic Daniel Aldrich, and after 25 minutes of difficult work utilizing Ladder 1's Lucas Tool, Multiple Reciprocating Saws, Hydraulic Rams, and the Hand Powered Hurst Tool unit from Fredonia Rescue 14 the victim was freed from the vehicle and transported rapidly to the helipad. Mercy Flight of Buffalo landed minutes after, and the patient was transported to E.C.M.C. Trauma Center. Manpower was utilized from Fredonia, and off duty personnel assisted. The Incident Commander was Captain Allen Loeb, and the #1 Shift was working for the incident. National Grid was called to the scene after realizing the the vehicle was resting on the building's Electric Meter. Crews utilized extreme caution and were very fortunate that there were no injuries to rescue personnel.

On Duty Crew: C2:Capt.Loeb, R1:Acting Lt.Thomas/FF.Trippy, E3:FF.Kucharski, E4:FF.Piglowski, and L1:FF.Kirell. Off Duty Crew: FF.Meyer LINK TO PHOTOS (PHOTOS BY JOHN ZAMBOTTI, TINA LEWIS, BONNIE SINCLAIR, SAMANTHA MCDONNELL - OBSERVER, AND PAUL TRIPPY)