Cole Drive Structure Fire

On Wednesday, April 15th at 2155 hours Midway Fire Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire with multiple calls confirming a working fire at 127 Cole Drive. Battalion 81 started the first alarm transfers until confirmation could be made on scene. Engine 811 and Medic 815 arrived minutes later confirming a working fire on a 3 story single family dwelling, fully involved with high winds driving the fire to an exposure building that had an exterior that was already smoking. Engine 811 hit the hydrant on Songbird Lane laying 5” line into the scene and taking a defensive attack and exposure protection. Medic 815 was met by the homeowner that had sustained injuries while evacuating the large raised beach home. Tower 814 arrived minute later taking a position on side “A” of the structure preparing to go into service for master stream operations. Engine 821 arrived on scene and set to work on confirming evacuation of the exposure building by completing a primary search of that large, raised beach house. Battalion 81 hearing the information given by first arriving units struck a second and third alarm assignments in rapid succession. Chief 2 (Crawford) and Chief 3 (Payne) arrived taking respective positions, with Chief 2 taking Operations and Chief 3 taking Safety. Chief 1 (Eggiman) arrived on location and assumed Cole Drive command. Engine Ladder 831 and multiple mutual aid companies arrived on scene with the assignments of continued exposure protection, extinguishment, and rehab. The crews set up numerous step guns and landlines along with ladder pipe operations. The crews had a bulk of the fire knocked down within hour. After about three hours, command started to release mutual aid units and Midway units started to pick up. While most of the fire was knocked down, a collapse zone was set up due to the structure being heavily damaged and experiencing partial collapses. Engine 811, Tower 814 and Medic 815 were on scene for over 14 hours until a bulldozer could be brought to the scene to bring some of the walls down and provide safer and clearer access to hot spots. District coverage was provided by mutual companies and off duty personnel staffing reserve apparatus and ambulances. These units also handled multiple calls while the fire was in progress.

Command: Chief 1

Operations: Chief 2

Safety: Chief 3

Midway Units:

Engine 811, 821, 812 & 822

Tower: 814

Ladder: 831

Medic: 815, 835, 825 & 845

Unit 1

TSA 1

A huge thank you to our mutual aid departments!

Mutual Aid (On Scene and Covering the District)