Monday, October 24, 2011

A Platoon Vehicle Fire

On Monday October 24th, Ladder 1324 was alerted to King Avenue for a vehicle fire. Upon arrival Ladder 1324's crew observed a sport utility vehicle with fire in the engine and passenger compartments. The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries. (Accompanied video from bystander prior to Fire Department arrival)


Saturday, October 22, 2011

Motor Vehicle Accident with Rollover & Fire

On October 22nd, Engine 1322 and BLS 1392 responded to Knollwood Drive for a motor vehicle accident.  A vehicle was reported to be overturned and on fire.  Cherry Hill Police arrived on scene first and reported that the driver and passenger were out of the car and not injured.  Upon arrival Engine 1322 confirmed a vehicle on its side with fire showing.  Engine 1322’s crew placed the 1 ¾ inch bumper line in service and extinguished the fire.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Fire in Flour Manufacturing Plant

Smoke from air filter
On October 8th, at 1610 hrs in the 1900 block of Old Cuthbert Road, a call was received for a building fire. Squrt 31, Ladder 44 and Squad 13 along with Battalion 13 and BLS 1393 responded. Battalion 13 arrived to find smoke showing in the upper story of the facility. He was met by the production operator stating that they had a burnt out blower unit.
Scorch Marks from internal fire

After further investigation by Squrt 31's crew, they found an active fire on the 4th story level involving an air filter unit. The unit was showing in excess of 500 degrees. The manufacturing process was shut down to allow the air filter unit to cool down so that it could be accessed.
Air Filter Cyclone
When the unit cooled down to be able to safely open it, the companies accessed the cyclone and found an active fire involving the air filter socks. The crews had stretched a water line to that level and proceeded to extinguish all active fire. 


 



Burned up air filters



The air filters had to be removed one by one so that complete extinguishment could be accomplished. The companies completed the overhaul and turned the facility back over to management.


 


Contact points for air filters



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Haz Mat Unit Receives Federal DOT Grant for Advanced Training

    Squad 13 received  federal money from the Department of Transportation's 2010 HMEP (Hazardous Material Emergency Preparedness) Grant to provide members with three (3) 2-day classes on advanced air monitoring and incident assessments. 

Personnel mitigating an emergency involving compressed cylinders.
   

    The program was developed to provide personnel with key training opportunities that covered a full gamut of various incidents they are required to respond to.  Included, were topics such as; Transportation Emergencies, Clandestine Drug Labs, Terrorism, Radiation Emergencies and Large scale Hazardous Material Releases.   

Motor Vehicle Crash involving the transportation of radioactive waste
  
    Members of the Squad Company, along with personnel from other departments that are involved with the Camden County Haz Mat Task Force, were given training in both a classroom setting providing topics on theory and table top scenarios and a practical hands-on setting using actual hazardous materials. 



A "cooking" process at a mocked up Clandestine Drug Lab.


9.27.2011 - Cherry Hill Units respond to Leaking Liquid Oxygen Cylinder at the Saltzman House

       Ladder 1344 was dispatched to a report of a leaking oxygen cylinder inside a 1st floor unit of the Saltzman house.  Once on location, they were presented with a liquid oxygen cylinder actively leaking vapors inside one of the apartments.  The occupants were removed from the apartment and the area was secured while waiting for the arrival of Cherry Hill's Haz Mat Unit. 

                                                                   


     Members of the Haz Mat Unit made their way into the apartment and were presented with a home therapy tank actively leaking, creating a high oxygen atmosphere.  Crews quickly removed the cylinder to the outside and had the Ladder crew ventilate the area to bring levels back down to normal conditions. 



      Once on the outside, members assessed the cylinder and found a relief valve stuck partially in the open position.  The Haz Mat team reset the valve to stop the leak and requested the responsible party to respond out and remove the cylinder from the property.