Happy 200th Birthday to this historic mill. I'm glad most of it is still standing to this day. This mill played a part in all three major wars, the Civil War, WWI and WWII. Most, if not all wool attire you see on a soldier, was manufactured at this mill.
Tough fight,when an old mill starts to burn. There's usually no option but go defensive and minimize damage to any surrounding areas. Well done, firefighters.
This is one of the best videos I have seen of this fire, I just wish it was longer, like about 30 hours instead of 30 minutes. It would have been nice to see some of the things that happened later in this incident. A lot happened that isn't shown in any video I have ever seen. Thank you for posting this on the anniversary of the fire. Hard to believe it was 12 years ago today.
This fire had been burning and seated a long time before alarm. In this size, age, and use of this structure, no one should have entered until a certain water supply established!
This is by far the most BREATHTAKING, FASCINATING, TERRIFYING and SUPERBLY FILMED footage of an astronomical disaster and the heroes that fought back. KUDOS!!! 🌈🌈🌈🌈
At first it looks like it should be easy to knock it down not much smoke. But I have been in buildings like that so meany rooms and doors hard to find you way around old dry wood no sprinklers no stand pipes. I am glad I didn’t have to go onto that place. This was a battle they just couldn’t win. Wish I could see more video of the fire.
Agreed. They spent too much time setting things up before entering and putting water on the fire. But I give them credit. They did a really fine job burning down this old building.
Why not grab the hydrant on the way in, instead of wasting time and manpower dragging the hose back to the hydrant? Why did they wait so long to advance hose lines into the building?
I just like these old firetrucks! Does anyone have a date of manufacture? I mean - in Germany, for vehicles 30 years or older, An "H" for "historical" is added to the license no., e.g. WW - JN 1968H. Oh, I forget: my regrets for that old factory, it still WAS in good shape - before the fire, of course! Cheers!
This is a tragedy. Such a beautiful historic building. I'd really like to know what the cause of this one was. A careless person or some electrical cause
As with so many fires I watch the fire department let the fire get out of control while they do their long slow preparation dance before taking action. Why does it so often take forever before getting the first drop of water on to a fire?
They have to find the seat of a fire. That building is a tinderbox. There was nothing to save in the building other than things (not people). Safety is of utmost concern when fighting these warehouse fires lest you have another Worcester Cold Storage catastrophe.
They had crews in the building, but these old warehouses can be a maze and the fire was most likely already churning inside, by the time they got there. Don't let the lack of visible smoke make you think there wasn't already a raging fire inside.
These companies are living in the shadow of the Worcester Cold Storage warehouse fire in 1999 (six FF's dead), and they are going to tread very carefully in going into a building like this. Their cautious approach is appropriate and no surprise.
@@theamazingparkerC Isn't that nice! 😒 I hope those responsible received a prison sentence. It's one thing to engage in illegal activities, but dragging everyone down with you is an abomination!! 😠😠😠
@@stanpatterson5033 Absolutely no chance to save the building then, between all the oil from the machines to keep them running and the fibres from the yarn you have tons of fuel to start and sustain it
@nphil93992 ... yeah, but I seem to recall that when this fire happened, the mill had long been closed and most if not all the space had been converted to offices, and other commercial space. Sure, there was likely some residue fibres kicking around here and there, but I can't see large quantities of oil being around, as most of the machinery would have been long gone. I'd have to go back and check into it again.
@@stanpatterson5033 If they left the old floors in it would have impregnated the would as it dripped from the machines, mills here in the UK have the same problem. If the floors are original the place is usually a goner.
The way they were taking their time setting up correctly, They knew early this small amount of smoke was hiding something bigger. Two towns over from me , a call came in, light haze of smoke maybe a light ballast burnt out, on arrival, the light haze was now a light smoke condition, 20 minute later it was well on it's way of being a very large mill fire . When I saw the smoke around the 3:26 mark, you could tell it was already in the walls and growing and they already knew it was going to happen. . GREAT video showing how a mill can go from a lazy smoke condition to a inferno. It's old, but awesome. Monday morning QB I thought Northbridge positioned their ladder truck to close on arrival, later you see them moving it. Down time can screw things up at a fire, this time it didn't matter. I know it's control chaos going on but I was always trained to keep the truck no matter what, out of the collapse zone. Other than that, they set up for the long haul correctly If anyone wants to see the mill fire I was talking about it type Ashaway RI, mill fire. A lot of lines pushing a lot of water, majority of the water tanker supplied
Don't like the Way the Ladder Trucks Are Position.. Yeah Right the Building is a Goner But, It's Surround & Drown All Towers ,Sticks, & Deck Guns Going with hopefully The Hydrants have good Pressure..
Why does it take so long for Fiefighter's in Canada to set up at a working Fire ??? Our C.F.A . boys & Girl's would have assed the Situation and the firies would be on to it before it took hold & Destroyed the house , you people run around like Chook's with their head's cut off !!! I live in Hastings Victoria 3915 Australia !!
Vertical venting that made the fire burn better. Officers that Let FFers remain in smoke without SCBA. Not attacking the fire through the windows off those ladders to get water directly on the burning materials. Applying water through a hole in the roof which will get most of the water on the floor below. Then when you realize your approach was ineffective, you stand back and squirt water like Fountain Statues. 29:35 This is priceless! My comments come from evaluating Performance, not worshipping Firefighters Just because they Joined Up, Dressed Up and Showed Up. That's something I don't expect many of you to understand. That was a pretty pathetical example of fire fighting but it is consistent with what Massachusetts and the nation have to offer. Massachusetts needs a new Fire Commissioner! Big Time!
