HUNDRED-FOOT FIREBALL
FIRE REPORTS
The importance of wearing protective clothing on the fireground was demonstrated at this repair shop fire in Buffalo, N.Y., last Jan. 30.
Official Buffalo Fire Department photos by Cliff Preisigke
The Buffalo fire alarm office, at 4:54 p.m., received a box alarm and a telephone report of an explosion at Cenesse and Fox Streets.
The structure was constructed of concrete block and file with a brick facing and a trussed roof, one story (equal to two) in height. It was approximately 70 by 150 feet in size Adjacent to it was a 2 1/2-story wood-frame structure with a one-story store added to the front. The store area was used for a storage area for automobile paints and repair materials. The rest of the first floor and second floor were occupied apartments.
A full assignment was dispatched under the command of Battalion Chief Harvey Supple, including Engines 21, 33 and 3, with Ladders 6, 11 and Rescue 1. All engine and ladder companies carried four men and the rescue unit carried six. Division Chief John Supple was dispatched due to numerous phone calls and another box alarm at 4:55.
At one point a 55-gallon drum of lacquer thinner erupted into a 100-foot-diameter fireball Flaming liquid then showered on fire lighters working in the street. Fast work by other fire fighters with handlines helped extinguish the resulting fires and rush seven injured fire fighters to safety. The injured received burns of their ears, necks and faces only . . . because they were wearing protective clothing.
Engine 21, a 1250-gpm pumper, was first on the scene. Lieutenant Charles Manuella immediately requested a second alarm at 4:57. Harvey Supple reported to the alarm office that the building had been completely destroyed and that the adjacent 2 1/2-story frame dwelling was involved and secondary explosions were occurring. Hearing this report, John Supple requested an additional battalion chief. First Battalion Chief Sebastian DiMaria was dispatched. Deputy Fire Commissioner Arthur Herdzik and Fire Commissioner Fred Langdon also responded at this time.
Initial first-alarm engine company operations were to protect the exposures and to prevent any additional fire spread. Engine 21 dropped two 2 1/2-inch lines in front of the building and proceeded east on Cenesse St. to Fox St. where Engine 33, a 1250-gpm pumper, hooked on to a hydrant with soft suction. The two lines laid by Engine 21 were hooked on to Engine 33. Engine 21 proceeded north on Fox St. and laid two 2 1/2-inch lines from the side of the fire building to a hydrant at the corner of Fox and High where the engine hooked on with soft suction. Engine 33 s crew hand laid two 2½-inch lines to supply their portable deluge set which was positioned on Cenesse east of the fire.
Engine 3, a 1250-gpm pumper, hooked on to a hydrant at the corner of Cenesse and Sherman with soft suction. Its crew hand laid two 2½-inch lines down the alley along the west side of the 2½-story dwelling at 820 Cenesse. One line was advanced to the rear of the dwelling and the other was positioned in the alley to protect the exposure.
Ladder 6 and Rescue 1 conducted search operations in the 2½-story dwelling. No occupants were found but a pet dog was recued. Ladder 11 searched the repair garage for any victims. The paint store and repair shop had closed at noon and were unoccupied at the time of the explosion. The two occupants of the second-floor apartment at 820 Genesse escaped.
When these operations were completed the crews from Ladders 6 and 11 stretched two additional 2 1/2-inch lines to the front of the repair shop off Engine 3. The crew from Rescue 1 stretched a 1 3/4-inch line from Engine 3 to operate inside the 2½-story dwelling.
Engines 31, 16 and 32, plus Ladders 1 and 14, and Rescue 2 responded on the second alarm. Engine 31, a 1250-gpm pumper, laid an additional 2½-inch supply line to Engine 33. Engine 31 hooked onto a hydrant at Genesse and Herman with soft suction. The crew from Engine 31 operated a 2½-inch line inside the remaining part of the auto repair shop.
Engine 16, a 1250-gpm pumper, hooked on to a hydrant at the corner of Genesse and Sherman with soft suction. A 2½-inch line was stretched from this engine to the first-story roof of 820 Genesse to knock down the interior fire on the second floor and to later advance inside the structure.
Engine 32, a 1250-gpm pumper, hooked on to a hydrant at High and Sherman with soft suction. A 2½-inch line was stretched to the rear of the 2½-story dwelling.
Ladder 1, a 100-foot aerial, was positioned on Genesse west of 820. The crew placed its aerial to the roof and ventilated. They were ordered off the roof when the attic and roof became heavily involved. Ladder 14’s crew assisted Engine 31’s crew operating lines inside the remaining part of the repair shop. Members of Rescue 2 assisted fire fighters at the rear of 820 and with the interior attack.
John Supple requested a third alarm at 5:08. Engines 22, 1, 13 and Ladder 5 responded on this alarm. Supple assigned Harvey Supple to the east side and DiMaria to the west side of the fire to coordinate operations. Deputy Commissioner Herdzik and Commissioner Langdon arrived at this time and directed fire fighting operations.
The crew from Engine 22 stretched another 2½-inch line from Engine 16 to the roof of the dwelling to assist the crew from Engine 16. Engine 17’s crew laid an additional 2½-inch line from Engine 32 to the rear of 820. An additional 2½-inch line was stretched from Engine 16 up the aerial by fire fighters from Engine 13 and operated in the attic window until the interior lines were able to advance. The crew from Ladder 5 assisted crews with the fire attack and overhaul operations on the 2½-story dwelling. The fire was extinguished on the first and second floors of the dwelling and crews advanced to the attic, which was now fully involved. All exterior lines operating on this structure were shut down and the interior lines brought this part of the fire under control.
There had been constant small explosions causing fireballs 10 to 15 feet in diameter since fire fighters first arrived. These were being caused by 5-gallon cans of lacquer thinner and paint exploding. At approximately 5:30, the drum of lacquer thinner exploded. In addition to the fire fighters, five spectators were burned. This explosion also reignited the 2½-story dwelling on all floors, but it was quickly knocked down by the lines that were already operating inside the structure.
It was determined that a ruptured natural gas line was feeding the flames in one area and the hose streams were directed away from this area. Langdon requested highlifts from the street department to remove the rubble from the sidewalk so the gas could be shut off at the curb box. Once this was done, the fire was declared under control.
At 8:25 that night, John Supple requested Engines 35 and 38 and Ladders 2 and 13 to respond to relieve companies at the scene. At 11:27, Engine 10 and Ladder 10 were requested for relief. The last units left the scene at 1:05 the next morning.
The cause of the initial explosion has not been definitely determined, but it was thought to have been from either a leak in the natural gas line or a leak in a container of lacquers or solvents in the basement The source of ignition was probably a hot water tank in the center of the basement area. Damage was estimated at $380,000.
