Fire Alarm Call

Thanks to David, Phyllis, Brian, Glenn, Wayne (pumper), Ed

Dispatch at 10:20pm Thursday night for unknown fire alarm on Bridges Way, which is our only major high density subdivision off Double Bridges Road. I had Central notified en route and the pumper just leaving the station 10:30pm when the 10-22 came 10:31pm so all is good. Phyllis, Brian, and David went directly to the address. Arnoldville FD and Crawford FD also responded.

False alarm. Nonetheless, very good response. Everyone had checked in by 11pm, and that's great.

Notes: if you're playing around with your security system and the fire alarm goes off, call Central (911) to cancel. Unless you want a visit from three fire departments within ten to fifteen minutes.

We've had more fire calls in 2009 so far than in all of 2008.

Vehicle Accident Call

Saturday evening brought a 6pm call for a two-vehicle accident on Hway 78 (Athens Road between Old Edwards and Wolfskin), initially to Arnoldsville. At 6:20pm, Wolfskin was paged out for apparatus support.

Thanks to Ed, Glenn, David, Wayne (pumper) for response.

We were there for the usual reasons, Just In Case, but also for possible cleanup need. The idea seems to have been to wash off the road but there was leakage of transmission fluid/coolant mix and they used dry absorbant instead. Good on Oglethorpe County for choosing an appropriate cleanup method. It didn't take long, and I think we were back in 45 minutes.

Good response, well-done. Thanks, all. Only mistake was me running over the chock, but Ed caught that I was just trying to make him feel better.

Early Thu Apr 9: Structure Fire Call

Thanks to David, Glenn, Wayne for response. Tanker driver: Wayne

Original dispatch was to Arnoldsville FD around midnight Thursday morning for a structure fire at Meyer Farm Road (just this side of Hargrove Lake Road, 10-15 miles from Wolfskin FD). Devils Pond FD and Beaverdam FD were also called, then Crawford FD and Winterville FD. Sounds like around 7 pumpers and tankers involved, as well as EMS and LE. The road was very well blocked.

The WFD tanker was dispatched at 0021, I was enroute by 0029 with Glenn on way to lock up and follow. I believe I arrived at 0045, David already there. We provided a tank of water (2500 gal) nursing to DPFD tanker.

Structure, a residence, had been reported as fully involved shortly after we were called. There may have been a smoke inhalation injury but otherwise no one was hurt. Refilled the trusty tanker and were back at station at 0253.

Beaverdam's Ray did a fantastic job as IC this morning, convening a short meeting of firefighters toward the end to tell us what would happen now, and moving up and down the row of engines keeping us all informed. Bill Moody was sharp as a tack, relaying to Central that we had arrived, and also when we had been released. Oglethorpe Central dispatcher also did a great job, including thanking folks as they arrived back at station.

I was unsuccessful in reaching anyone by phone, but since it was out of district, only tanker water was needed, and so many FDs were present, I figured it would be mostly just standing around for a couple of hours after getting things going. Which it was. Otherwise I would have been more persistent.

Note: our county roads are quiet and nice to travel on between midnight and 4AM.

Late Wed Apr 1: Good Will Call

During mid evening, Central requested we respond to a residence, close to the fire station, who reported that their carbon monoxide alarm had sounded. Ed, Glenn, Phyllis, Jim, and David each responded in their POVs. The owners said that the alarm went of after a gas heater was turned on. The owners had turned off the heater before Wolfskin arrived and Jim scanned the area with his own monitor and confirmed the absence of carbon monoxide. Ed made sure the unit and its gas supply were both turned off and told the owners to have the gas heater checked by a repair person.

Note: carbon monoxide is a highly flammable, tasteless, odorless, invisible, and lethal gas produced by incomplete combustion. Install carbon monoxide detectors near fireplaces and where propane or natural gas is burned. Although it has the same density as air, the gas will rise along with the other warm combustion gases; place the monitor above the the flames but more importantly where you can easily get to it to test it, change its batteries and to turn it off.