No rest for the weary!

No rest for the weary in Melrose!

Following a busy day & night dealing with the storm damage the Melrose Fire Department was hoping for an easy quiet shift.

Well that would not happen! Around nine o’clock the station light flicked on, the tones and bells dropped and the guys raced to their rigs. “Melrose fire transmitting box 42, dispatching engines 2,3 Ladder 1 and the Rescue, 504 Lebanon street for a report of a structure fire!”

The door on the apparatus bays began to roll up. The quiet night air began to rumble as the rigs started up. Then came the lights and sirens and what was a nice still night came alive.

With a quick right out of the station and a fast left up Upham Street the boys where on scene in no time. As the 1st due crew approached they signed off on scene reporting smoke and fire showing and requested a 2nd alarm assignment.

Masked up and with tools and hose line in hand crews made entry. Through the front door and up 1 flight of stairs, into the bowels of a two and a half wood residential structure they went. Over the radio came muffled; by their masks; calls for water. “We need another line, we got heavy fire 2nd floor” cried out.

Second by Second, minute by minute the devil pushed by and began to gain the upper hand despite the Fire Fighter’s efforts. “Command to all unit, out of the building!” came across the radios. And with the evac. order out there fire alarm sounded the tones and the rig operators sounded their horns.

Reluctant to give up the fight crews slowly pulled out. While transition to a defensive posture PAR was conducted to ensure all the fire fighters were out and safe.

With the switch to defensive posture, out came the big lines! And the ladder pipes were charged. Surround and drown!

Around this point command called for the 3rd alarm to be transmitted, bring in 2 additional engine and a ladder company.

Once the bulk of the heavy fire was shown whose boss, the big lines and ladder pipes were shut down. Crews masked up for a second time and re-made entry to chase hot spots and that they did! “Command we have fire in the Alpha/Bravo corner!”, “There’s fire in the ceiling of the 2nd!” all radio traffic which was heard.

These communication where founded to be very real as a short time later fire began to creep out the eves again. Like a well-oiled machine crews quickly grabbed a hand line and dragged it up the ladder and fought the devil back!

After several hours command placed the fire under control and began to release crews from the scene; however; a fire detail remained on scene throughout the night.

During the height of the fire Boston Sparks A-10 and Cataldo & Atlantic ambulance services were on scene providing EMS and Rehab services.

The home owner was able to get out without injury and declined Red Cross services.