Scenes from a Well-Coordinated Attack

摘要

During a safety inspection of a New York City water main by a replacement contractor on March 30, 2007,1 witnessed a fast moving four-alarm fire that ripped through four two-story frame private dwellings in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The fire required the response of three divisions with 17 engines, 12 ladders, a squad, a satellite unit, a rescue battalion, a safety battalion, Fieldcom, a borough commander, and a significantly large number of support apparatus with more than 150 personnel. Following are some observations I made as to the strength of effective fireground communications, apparatus placement, and aggressive firefighting tactics. Tower Ladder (TL) 142 was special called as the firefighter assistance truck (FAST); it arrived behind Ladder 125, one of the second-alarm companies (photo 1). The division chief's car was purposely parked on the sidewalk, away from the fireground, which provided plenty of access for the incoming companies. In fact, it permitted second-alarm units direct fireground access (photo 2).