NANUET FD RESPONDS TO STRUCTURE FIRE AT LOCAL CONDO COMPLEX
By Jason S.
October 5, 2009
At 1:53pm, Nanuet FD was alerted to respond to an automatic alarm at the Normandy Village Condo complex. Before 44-Control could finish dispatching the call, Clarkstown police advised of a structure fire at that location. 44-Control immediately updated the dispatch to a structure fire and dispatched the West Nyack FD (Dept. 24) for a FAST (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) team.
Upon arriving on scene 3 minutes later, Asst Chief Koester confirmed the working structure fire and advised 44-Control to dispatch an additional pumper with manpower from the Pearl River FD (Dept. 12). As 8-EQ arrived on scene, Asst Chief Koester instructed the crew led by Engineer Brian O'Toole to stretch an 1 3/4" handline into operation on the 2nd floor. The fire appeared to have already taken control of the attic above.
As a result, Asst Chief Koester then instructed 8-Tower to setup in front of the building and cut ventilation holes in the roof as soon as possible. Because the roof was already showing signs of significant fire damage, Lieutenant Craig Paxton decided to cut the holes from the bucket of the ladder truck. Manuvering the ladder into place, Lt. Paxton was able to cut several holes to ventilate as much smoke and fire from the attic as possible, making heat and visibility conditions inside the building much better for crews inside.
The fire was extinguished shortly thereafter and all apparatus returned to normal service roughly 2 hours after the initial dispatch.
