Playmobil City Fire Department is on the scene of a large office building fire with reported entrapment. The office building has been going through a reconstruction upgrade to add an in house fire alarm, & water sprinkler fire suppression system. The first, second, & third floors are vacant with the forth floor being occupied by Playmobil City Bank's business office. Also there is a day care provided for employees of the bank on the same floor. The construction company that won the bid for the renovations, is not a local company. Klicky City Construction is a reputable local company, but their bid was not low enough. The fire started on the third floor where a construction welder was welding pipe joints, & some welding slag landed on a pile of debris right before lunch time. While the workers were at lunch the fire got a good head start, & was discovered when the workers returned. When Playmobil City Fire Department was alerted, District 1 Station's 1,2,3, & District 2 Ladder Truck L235 responded. There was a report from the construction supervisor that he could not account for 2 of his workers, & thought they may be on the third floor. Search & rescue firefighting teams were assigned to check all four floors in the building for the missing workers. While that operation was being performed, Ladder Truck L135 was in the process of rescuing the forth floor bank office workers, & children from the day care center while an engine team worked on holding the fire back, & checking for hot spots in the ceilings. One by one the forth floor victims were rescued. Firefighters assisted the smaller children down L135's ladder, & then the adults, with one toddler being carried by a firefighter. This construction project had been inspected 2 days before this fire occured, with digital pictures documenting the progress by PCFD inspection teams. At that time there were no safety code violations.
The next thing that is heard over the radio's speakers is the one thing that all firefighters fear for one another............. L235 to headquarters we have emergency radio traffic.......headquarters to all units, stop all non emergent radio traffic on channel 5, we have a crew in distress.....go ahead L235 with your radio traffic, and advise your situation.......
TO BE CONTINUEDThis story is going to be a series of 5 events. I am going to warn you that it is going to be sad at the end.
An ariel view from channel 4 news helicopter showing the right side of the scene.
Another ariel view from channel 4 news helicopter of the left side of the scene.
Ladder Towers TL114, TL124, & Ladder Trucks L135, & L235 in position with smoke showing.
Smoke, & steam getting heavier as units battle the fire.
Heavy smoke enveloping the units battling the fire.
TL124, & TL114's platforms being taken over by smoke as they battle the blaze.
Interior firefighters pushing the advancing fire back as victims are evacuated.
Toddler being rescued.
Pictures showing small children being assisted down L135's ladder.
Another view.
And another view.
A ground view looking upwards toward the Tower Ladders TL124, & TL114.
A photo of TL124's platform crew working.
Visibility is poor on the forth floor.
Picture of roof ventilation crews working on cutting holes in the roof.
Support team exchanging empty SCBA air cylinders for firefighters.
Another view.
Playmofire taking photographs of the fire scene.
TV crews filming the action.
Crowd control.
Playmobil City Police Department units on the scene.
Another view of PCPD units on crowd control duty.
