Oct 15, 2006 - At approximately 4:40am,: Station 215 (Oakdale), Station 267 (Sturgeon) and Station 209(North Fayette) were dispatched to a working commercial structure fire at Boocks Bar in Oakdale. Engine 215-1 arrived on scene a with a full crew. 215 assistant 1 had initial command.215 Chief arrived later in the incident. Command asked for a 2nd alarm which was truck 12 (McDonald), RIT 125 (Presto) and station 269(Oakridge) for manpower. The Salvation Army canteen and a bus from Green's taxi were brought in later for rehab.

The first floor was fully involved with fire coming out of all windows. Engine 215-2, Rescue 215, and QRS 215 arrived on scene. 215 L-3 broke open the 2 remaining glass doors, while Engine 215-1 crews pulled 2 1/2 line and 1 ¾ line to each door and quickly knocked down all fire in the first floor. Engine 215-1 crews also went up an exterior stairway leading to the upstairs apartment to do a search, but were met with extreme heat, and were forced back down the steps. This resulted in one fire fighter getting burns to his hand. The crew with the 2 ½ line tried to make entry to extinguish a few hotspots but were hit by falling debris causing them to back out to the entrance. The crew with the 1 ¾ line made their way through the other entrance to the kitchen but encountered little fire. Engine 267-1 and Engine 267-2 arrived on scene and 267 crews took a 1 ¾ line from Engine 215-2 and stretched to the side office, but encountered little fire as well. When the fire was knocked down on the first floor, fire was already threw the roof, 215 command asked for 266 (South Fayette #1) Truck. Engine 209-4 (tele squirt) arrived on scene next to Engine 215-1 and truck 12 arrived on scene and backed in next to Engine 209-4. Engine 269-1 arrived on scene and staged next to Engine 215-1. 215 command instructed Engine 209-3 and truck 266 to go to Oak Engineered Products Inc parking lot to have Truck 266 set up aerial operations to back of the building across the creek.

Truck 12 crews set up aerial operations and Truck 12 crews went to the roof of the Dentist's office next door to knock down heavy fire that was stopping any crews from making an attack from inside the building. Engine 209-4 set up the tele squirt to attack through the left 2nd story window, while 215 crews set up their preconnected ground monitor to apply water into the right 2nd story window. Truck 12 attacked on the roof, while Truck 266 had a perfect angle to get to the rest of the roof that was now on fire. 2 hours into the incident, 215 command placed the fire under control. Crews extinguished hotspots and overhauled 'till noon when 215 command released all units except 209, 267, and 269 for extra cleanup, Engine 269-1 foamed the upstairs and downstairs, with CAFS to keep it from rekindling.and assisted in venting the dentist's office for minor smoke damage. All units clear of the scene around 1pm.

Story by Perry Aston
Photos taken by Perry Aston and Lee Hartman

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