Apparatus grouped for pictures

As E-One has been building our new Engine 3, they have been sending pictures, so here's a few for you to see.

Torential rains combined with high levels of water from past rainfalls saw flooding of brooks in Bridgewater into streets. No major damage, but certainly some loss from this few hour flood. The waters continued to be an issue up river and outside town for over 24 hours. Pictures courtesy Ripple Connection Promotions.

Single vehicle, two inside, one trapped. All out quickly without incident. Slippery roads to blame on curvy road. The pole lost.

This was a long one. A large old structure, combined into two, then cut into several units, creating lots of hidden spaces for the fire to crawl. We responded around lunch, and spent a few hours getting things under control. Around supper, we packed up and headed home. Some crews didn't leave town, others were near halfway home when the fire appeared again. In the end the huge structure was completely destroyed. Over a dozen departments assisted from as far away as 100km. It was the next mid-morning before we returned to base.

These were all taken after, but when this was going, it was one amazing fireball. Gives you an idea when you see the pictures.

Wow! Lucky folks. Car accelerates as it leaves car wash heading straight up over curb, through concrete reinforcements and into electrical box. As the car sat on top of live electrical wires, the occupants of the car get out...and don't get electrocuted. A big mess to clean up, but amazingly nobody hurt.

This one came in around lunch on a hot August day. Came across the pager as "a stereo on fire" and we realized upon arriving on scene it was a house on fire. Everyone in the home narrowly escaped, especially the little girl in the room the fire started in. The home was salvaged after the call and the family has since moved in.

A few fire extinguishers and some quick thinking by a the homeowners and guests saved this from being a structure fire.

This was one of the most fuel-fed fires you will see in our area - furniture store fully involved. Needless to say this one stopped burning when the fuel ran out. You could see the glow from this one just after leaving Bridgewater (about 15 minutes away) and the heat could be felt about 1/2 km away. Heat damage was done to the homes across the road, as well as our ladder truck lights.

"Stove on fire" came across on the pager, we assumed worse. This fire stayed small until our arrival, but burned very hot, and did a substantial amount of heat and smoke damage. We found our thermal imaging camera handy on this one, and kept water damage to the very minimum.

Here's what happens if you leave a magic bag or similar type product in the microwave for WAY to long. PS. Don't leave the house either after you put it in.

We knew we had a good one when this call came in - Honorary firefighter's house, and he was at the neighbour's calling for us! This had to be one of the thickest smoke calls we have seen in some time...ceiling to floor zero visibility. Thermal Imaging Camera came in great use here, as we were able to see where we were going and where the fire was. Unfortunately due to smoke and heat (melted drip tray on fridge on second floor) this was a total loss even though we contained the fire to one room in the basement.

With many firefighters at the station, we had a quick response. We also had a brand new thermal imaging camera. Unfortunately this fire was noticed by someone passing by, meaning this one had a chance to get burning. A total loss, this old house was built to burn, and you could see it after as the burn pattern travelled from the basement (where it started) to the main and second floors almost immediately. Did we mention it was during a snow storm? While investigating the cause the next day, we were called to an MVA.

Life Flight, the air ambulance occassionally requires assistance for a landing, when their normal landing area at the hospital is closed. On this instance we managed to also get some pretty cool pictures.

This fire up a long driveway outside town was discovered by someone passing by, well after it had a chance to get seeded. An old farm house, this was one of the more spectacular fires in recent months. Was a total loss to the family, sadly.

This one came in as a house fire, and it sure was. Starting on the back deck (cigarette meets garbage thanks to wind) this fire spread up the outside wall and under the eves inside the roof. Some spectacular pictures compliments of Keith Corcoran/Lighthouse Publishing. We managed to contain the fire and most of the damage above the ceiling, but water damage resulted in the home being rebuilt (contents were mostly saved.)

We were called in after the fire was out to help fill air bottles and provide some relief in salvage and overhaul. The entire home was gutted.

Ahhh, the year of the ice. This happens every 20 or so years, and has in the past resulted in a bridge lost or homes destroyed. Fortunately this year, after some major national media coverage, the ice did leave the bridge, but later took a large sewer pipe. We stayed on scene for over 36 hours watching ice freeze in place for a several week stay until it easily left (with relatively little damage) and just in time for major floods upriver.

This one came in while many firefighters were at the reception of two firefighters who got married that day (we got back four hours later for the dance.) This fire burned the home basement to ceiling, a total loss.

This one could have been worse but a neighbour spotted it and doused it steadily prior to us arriving. We've seen this many times...and the message remains the same: Don't put hot items in a composter!

This fire was as close as you could be to another structure...without losing it too. We responded with our ladder truck to provide protection for a home and garage, and managed to somehow save them both. An amazingly hot and smoky fire which was out of control quickly and for a long time. This two story apartment house was reduced to one by the end of the night. Our pumper provided water from Lunenburg Harbour for the second time in six months for a large Lunenburg blaze.

Minus 17, plus wind chill, and it was cooooold. We froze, our equipment froze, it just froze in general. Still, we did get this one under control fairly quick, but still due to the way it burnt, lost the structure. Luckily nobody was inside as was first reported.

This fire garnered huge national attention, as it was the oldest church of its kind. Burning out of control for 13 hours until an excavator was brought in, this was a mixed emotion fire. On one side firefighters smiled as they gained access to the fire, while onlookers cried as another piece was lost. This church has since been rebuilt after a multi-million dollar campaign. Fire departments from 100km or more came to assist, nearly 200 firefighters in all.