Wednesday, June 27, 2012

6696 Greenwood Parkway, June 26, 2012 – 10:31 PM. At 10:31 PM last evening the Walker Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 6696 Greenwood Parkway with a reported house fire with people trapped. Hamlin also was dispatched as the mutual assistance company. 2C114, Daryl Prince, was quickly on the scene and reported a house fully involved. Walker Chief Ed Barth arrived on location and decided that the operation would be defensive because the house was already completely involved with major portions already collapsed. Greenwood Parkway is a dead end street right on Lake Ontario that has a hydrant, but it was inoperable.

 

Walker Engine 284 arrived first and laid a four inch supply line to the structure from a plug on Walker Lake Ontario Road taking a position in the driveway of the burning structure. Walker Engine 282 then arrived on location and took a position in the next driveway to the east, where embers were falling on the neighboring structure. Hamlin Engine 243 arrived next, dropped its manpower and laid out a five inch supply line from 284. When 243, with Anthony DiNatale driving, reached Walker Lake Ontario Road it met Spencerport Engine 2913 which had a second hydrant made on Shore Acres Drive and 243 relayed that water down the five inch supply line. Hamlin Engine 242, with Tom Sercu driving, took the plug on Walker Lake Ontario Road where 284 began their stretch and supplied water to the Walker engine on the four inch supply. Hilton’s Quint 260 was also positioned in the next driveway to the east and raised the aerial to protect the D side exposure. Morton was requested to respond with Rescue 218 for lighting and manpower.

 

The crew of Hamlin Engine 243 was divided when it arrived on scene with Firefighters Justin Stevenson and Brian Hueser being used to fill out a Walker crew that was setting up large diameter attack lines. Lt. Anthony Deserto, firefighters Hannah Deserto, Jeff Thompson and John Deserto initially were assigned to exposure protection but were quickly diverted to the D side of the structure to douse the wind driven flames.

 

The crew of 242, Capt. Rick Woods, Lt. Pat Doerrer, firefighters Adam Barker and Tim Slossar were initially the RIC, but when defensive operations were well along they were switched into the manpower pool.

 

After being cleared by the fire investigators, two attack crews from Walker and half of Hamlin’s 243 crew began overhaul operations on the rear of structure. The rest of 243’s crew, and the crew of 242 including a crew from Hamlin’s 2417 with additional firefighters Lou Frediani, Ron and Andy Breslawski were tasked with reloading the five inch supply line on 243.

 

The fire was first seen by neighbors on the exterior of the structure on the C side, which was taking brisk winds coming from the lake. Those winds were probably a major factor in the rapid spread of fire throughout the structure.  It is believed, from reports of neighbors, that there was no one in the structure. The building was a total loss and the DPW had equipment knock down the small portion still standing because it posed a hazard.

 

Units were still on the scene at 2:00 AM. Brockport filled in at Hamlin and Hilton filled in at Walker.

 

Story by Jerry Clement and John Deserto

Photo's by Jerry Clement.