Box going out !!! Reported Structure Fiyah!

When you hear the long tone and the words "Report of a structure fire..." in North Reading you pay attention and you better start lacing your shoes and start heading out!

The quiet sleepy town town quick woke up to the sounds of sirens screaming across it from every direction descending down on Sunset Ave.

And if that didn't wake yah up and get you moving the next radio transmission definitely would, to paraphrase "Fire alarm to Engine 3, per PD heavy fire showing..."

With the Q screaming in the background Engine 3 acknowledged. The Firefighter on the desk did a great job being pro-active calling for the mutual aid which included a RIT company.

Engine 3 rolled up and C5 made the call "Working Fire!" Crews went into fast attack, lines through the front door into the fire room. You could he

ar the urgency in thier voice as they called for the water.

By the sound of the traffic coming across the squawk box the fire was on the move, moving faster then the crews could get the wet stuff on it.

From the pump panel the operator let the crews know that they where draining the tank fast and he did not have a feeder set up yet; but; that would change with the share strength of the crews on scene. An off duty Middleton guy; North Reading former Chief; hand humped the line some Four Hundred yard back tp the plug. Just as he got it there North Reading's Engine 2 was pulling up and dropped the hydrant bag and a guy to help tie in.

With the dispatcher taking the initiative to get the mutual aid rolling before the first due crew arrived, crews from neighboring community where pulling up with the second due and everyone went to work. The hydrant getting tied in on Engine 3, handlines being pulled guys packing up and going on the attack.

As all that was going on C1 arrived and took command of the incident and called for a 2nd alarm. Heavy smoke was pushing from the eves. "C5 to commend fire on the 1st floor extending up, it is above us..." to paraphrase some of the audio heard that day.

With the additional mutual aid crews, crews split up and began attacking on floors. And the command structure was set up with interior divisional commands, Safety officer and Accountability officers.

Staffed by officer coming in who where off duty the ladder screamed up the road with the Q blaring warning everyone on the fire scene to watch out because it was in bound hot and heavy to take the front of the building. Which was easily done because the 1st due crew operator held short giving the front of the building to to the ladder. After a quick re-position to get under powerlines the out-rigger went down, the stick went up and crews grabbed the K12 and poles and vented the roof.

For a brief minute looking at it from the outside and listening to the squawk box one might of thought crews had it. There was talk that crews where on a pencil ladder in the attic getting the wet stuff on the hot stuff and by the fact that when the vent hole was cut in fire did not immediately push from it one jus might have thought! But, what started out as light smoke pushing from the vent hole slowly and steadily turned to heavy black pushing and yes you guessed it heavy black smoke turned in

to the red stuff actively pushing. And as it vented there it also began self venting on the Delta gable end.

Struggling with water issues due the number of lines out and the long lay, command instructed crews to tie into a second hydrant, which come to find out was not of much help because the two of them where on the same supply loop. Knowing the ladder pipe was gone to be needed and struggling with these water issues a call was made from command for an additional pump over the 2nd alarm assignment.

That additional pump would come in, tie in and pump the plug giving the crews plenty of pressure to put the final knock out on this one.

Crews would slowly begin pulling gear back. Draining hoses, washing down air packs. While keeping a close eye on the building to make sure there was no hot spots or flare ups.

Chief Stats ordered up the State Fire Marshall to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire. And he requested a fir