A number of issues with the fire prior to the fire department even arriving. The first company arriving was located 16 minutes and two towns away so that fire had about 25-minute head start by the time fire is detected, 9-1-1, dispatch and mutual aid goes out and arrival. I don't have actual dispatch and arrival times but just by Google maps that is 16-minute drive. There is some kind of issue with all fires in this complex; people say that the fire walls don't extend all the way up never addressed I have not seen that so not 100% sure. Aluminum wiring is known. Bad 1960s planning and design it seems like. From local fire company, "Yesterday at approximately 4:28pm; EWVFC2 was dispatched for an apartment fire at the K Building of the American Way Apartments. While en route to the station, Chief 46 called for the first alarm assignment with a distinct column of smoke in the sky. Robbinsville Squad 40 and Engine 46 arrived simultaneously to a two-story multi-family with heavy fire showing through the roof. Both units went in service with a 2.5” attack hose while securing a supply to SQ40. Monroe Ladder 23-8 and Hightstown Ladder 41 arrived and proceeded to set up aerials for defensive operations."
I’ve done a lot of work in these buildings. I’m a plumber. I’ve only ever worked on the water. I had to cut holes in the wall to access the unit next door. The “firewall” is not a cinder block wall. I’ve never seen a “firewall” like this before. I believe twin rivers is the same too.
Are all those buildings joined in the back? It's hard for me to tell. Firefighters have always said that for the best effect a stream should be applied to the base of the flames. To be done from above if possible, and never let the water fan out or mist.
Often you do not have a choice. The guys on the ground didn’t have a good angle from the exterior and had to do what they could with the cards they were dealt.
Yes, base of the fire. Just like when you're using an extinguisher. You aim at the base of the fire and not at the smoke which seems to be happening here
@@Cairns-880 I figure that's a big part of it. Maybe they would have managed by backing away until they could see the roof better, but I could not judge the space from the camera angles.
If you had been a firefighter then you would know why. That was the only option they had given the apparent defensive stance, so they did the best they could by using a broken stream to try and let water rain down from above.
Good video to learn some tactics on fire firefighting. For a 3 alarm fire not many fire fighter's there. Not sure when they were going to try and put a stop on this one
How can you make such an assertion with such a limited perspective? The guys on the ground were limited with the cards they were dealt, so you do the best you can.
Yeah, these types of apartment buildings are built as cheaply as absolutely possible, and if this one was of the age to have aluminum wiring, even worse. Also, they're close together and fire easily spreads from one building to the next via firebrands landing on the roof, or via radiant heat. Usually the drywall is the thinnest that the builder could get their hands on (1/2" or even 3/8"), and there's no insulation between units. And in these older ones, attics are usually wide open between units. A lot of these things are firetraps.
I was there helping get people out of the houses which is what the fire fighters were also doing. There was a guy trapped in a wheelchair that we got out and many families with children
All you people need to shut your mouths! Whether they are volunteers or a paid company doesn't matter, they will still put your house, car fire out no matter what!!
