News

Working Bldg. Fire-Historic Sun Times Building - 29 E. Commerce St.
Sunday, October 12, 2008

At 1358 hours Station 44 units, along with Ambulance 64, responded to a building fire at 29 East Commerce Street (the historic Smyrna Sun Times building). Prior to responding, 44-15 contacted Kent Center and advised them to re-dispatch the incident as a working alarm. Engine 44-2 responded at 1402 hours, with a crew of six, under the command of Chief John L. Embert. Upon 44-2’s 10-2, it was confirmed heavy smoke showing. A 5” supply line was stretched to the nearby hydrant while a 1 ¾” handline was placed in service. After forcing entry the crew began the attack of the fire on the second floor, making entry through the Bravo side of the structure. Crews encountered heavy fire and heat on the second floor in a room off the rear of the structure. The crews were able to knock down most of the fire on the second floor, but heavy fire was still in the attic/third floor area. After extensive ventilation, and exterior attacks with master streams and hoselines most of the fire was extinguished. Crews were then able to go back in and make access into the attic area and knock down the rest of the fire. Other units to respond from Station 44 were E44-3, E44-4, Rescue 44, and 44-10. Additional alarms were dispatched for Station 46(Dover) for a Ladder Co., Station 45(Clayton) for Engine & Rescue Co. and Stations 51(Hartly) and 43(Cheswold) for an Engine Assist. Two additional 1 ½” lines and one 1 ¾” line were placed in service. Crews from Sta. 45 also placed thier stinger monitor in service in the rear of the structure in the second floor windows, and roof area. Dover L-2 was placed in service in the front of the building to assist with ventilation and extinguishment with thier master stream. Additional companies were called for cover-up assignments from Stations 54(Little Creek), 24(Odessa), and 26(Townsend). Additional apparatus also responded to cover Sta. 45's district, from Kent County Maryland Station 2 (Millington) and Queen Anne’s County Station 6 (Sudlersville). The scene was placed under control at 1626 hours with the fire contained on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the structure and extensive water damage to the first floor. Units that responded were E44-2, E44-3, E44-4, E45-3, E43-4, E51-5, E54-5, E46-6, KC Engine 2, Ladder 46-2, QA Ladder 6, Rescue 44, Rescue 45, Rescue 26, B64, 44-10 and Smyrna P.D. CHC units were in service for 3 hours and 35 minutes and 65 members responded. No injuries were reported. Thank you to all companies who assisted and also to the 3 members of Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder(7,8,9,10) who stopped by and assisted while coming back from fireschool. Thank you also to Brian Slattery of Fire in the hole photography for taking pictures and supplying them to the CHC. Visit www.fithp.net for more pictures.