Miller's Lane House Fire Story
RINGWOOD, NJ - On March 20, 2010 at 6:49 p.m., the Borough of Ringwood Police Department dispatched desk transmitted an activated alarm at 91 Millers Lane to the Ringwood Volunteer Fire Co. 1.
The first arriving police officer at the scene reported a working structure fire and following mutual aid procedure the dispatch desk transmitted a second page alarm to the Skyline Lakes Fire Department and to the Erskine Lakes Fire Department. Based on the police officer’s on-air report of heavy fire and smoke showing, RVFC1 Chief, Bart Lidsky, then en route, called for a second alarm, activating all Ringwood units and a fast team from the Tuxedo, NY fire department. As per procedure, Chief Lidsky also called for a tanker task force from West Milford Fire Companies 3 and 4 and from the Tuxedo department. In addition to the tanker task force, headquarters coverage was requested. Over the air reports revealed that all occupants were out of the building.
Upon arrival, Chief Lidsky established Command and noted that the one and a half story, older, standard wood frame dwelling with full basement was showing heavy fire at the “C” exposure as well as the “C” side of the roof. Command assigned RVFC1 Assistant Chief Ken Diaz to interior operations and Erskine Lakes Fire Company Chief Rich Clarke to the exterior.
RVFC1’s Engine 261 was the first to arrive and set up as the attack apparatus in the front of the building. Attack was immediately undertaken using two 1¾ pre-connected hose lines. RVFC1’S Tanker 263 was positioned to supply Engine 261 with water. RVFC1’s tanker/pumper 262 and the mutual aid tankers were ordered to the scene to provide a tanker shuttle if such became necessary. Also responding was Erskine Lakes Engines 241 and 243, and Rescue 242, Skyline Lakes Engines 251 and 252, and Rescue 253, and Tuxedo’s ladder 575. RVFC1’s Squad1 and two ambulances from Ringwood’s Ambulance Corp also responded to the scene.
The FAST team was put in place and an aggressive interior attack combined with a primary search was put into operation. The initial attack team entered through the front door on the “A” exposure, as the fire had already self-vented through the “C” exposure. Attack crews found heavy fire in the kitchen and living room as well as the back deck. After the first floor fire was placed under control, inspection of the two bedrooms on that floor and of the basement area showed minimal fire involvement but with heavy heat and smoke effects.
Interior attack crews achieved access to the attic area via the removal of ceiling materials. Smoke and heat reduction was accomplished via roof ventilation. Upon access and venting, the interior crews extinguished the remaining attic and roof fire. The fast and efficient initial attack resulted in only 1000 gallons from Engine 261 and 2500 gallons from Tanker 263, being used for extinguishment. One hand line from Erskine Lakes Fire Company’s Engine 241, the second arriving engine, was used to put out a small brush fire that had extended from the structure.
Command declared the scene “under control” at 7:49 p.m. and all apparatus except for Engine 261 and Squad1 were released from the scene. Engine 261 and Squad 1 and their crews remained at the scene through the investigation to provide lighting, tools and a back-up hose line as a safety measure.
At approximately 12:30 a.m., the building was secured by the Ringwood Police Department and at that time all units cleared the scene.
Station coverage was provided by the West Milford and Wanaque fire companies.