Post by engine922 on Jan 21, 2008 8:31:53 GMT -5
This fire occured last night in the city of Grand Rapids which about 50 miles north of where I live. It was a very long night for the crews up there. Besides the large fire, the weather was a huge factor. Temps where around 5 degrees with wind chills around -15 degrees. Besides the city of GR, there where units from the city of Kentwood, city of Walker, city of Wyoming, city of Grandville and Plainfield Twp. Also, during this fire they had a working garage fire on the city's West side.
Th story and photos courtesy of woodtv.com:
GRAND RAPIDS -- A massive fire engulfed the Indian Village Condominiums near 28th and Breton, and multiple crews battled the blaze for hours.
The fire began around 5 p.m. at the condominiums on South Saulk Trail, displacing at least 100
residents. The complex has 101 residences, and all are either destroyed or damaged in some way from the fire. Another 30 townhouse units nearby also may have some smoke damage. There are no reports of injuries.
Flames were leaping into the air, with black, billowing smoke visible for miles spreading through the building.
"There was smoke in the hallway already, so it was pretty obvious we had to get out of there,"
said resident Royce Hill. Ben Moes added, "You could see the smoke come down on our floor and you could hardly breathe."
Firefighters had to rescue three people, and used their fire ladder to get them down.
When fire crews arrived, the intense flames were coming from the attic, since there were no firewalls in the attic of the 1970s building. It swept from home to home, floor to floor, forcing even the firefighters to get out of the building at one point.
Investigators are still searching for the cause of the blaze.
Fire crews from Grand Rapids and Kentwood are working in tandem to put out the fire. The Red Cross is there, and is working to find shelter for the residents. Many people are gathering at Pietro's Restaurant nearby.
Firefighters, covered in ice from the cold and water, are also taking respite at Pietro's. They told 24 Hour News 8 they're having trouble keeping their equipment in working order because of the extremely cold temperatures.
24 Hour News 8 has crews on the scene and will have more information as it develops on-air and online.
Th story and photos courtesy of woodtv.com:
GRAND RAPIDS -- A massive fire engulfed the Indian Village Condominiums near 28th and Breton, and multiple crews battled the blaze for hours.
The fire began around 5 p.m. at the condominiums on South Saulk Trail, displacing at least 100
residents. The complex has 101 residences, and all are either destroyed or damaged in some way from the fire. Another 30 townhouse units nearby also may have some smoke damage. There are no reports of injuries.
Flames were leaping into the air, with black, billowing smoke visible for miles spreading through the building.
"There was smoke in the hallway already, so it was pretty obvious we had to get out of there,"
said resident Royce Hill. Ben Moes added, "You could see the smoke come down on our floor and you could hardly breathe."
Firefighters had to rescue three people, and used their fire ladder to get them down.
When fire crews arrived, the intense flames were coming from the attic, since there were no firewalls in the attic of the 1970s building. It swept from home to home, floor to floor, forcing even the firefighters to get out of the building at one point.
Investigators are still searching for the cause of the blaze.
Fire crews from Grand Rapids and Kentwood are working in tandem to put out the fire. The Red Cross is there, and is working to find shelter for the residents. Many people are gathering at Pietro's Restaurant nearby.
Firefighters, covered in ice from the cold and water, are also taking respite at Pietro's. They told 24 Hour News 8 they're having trouble keeping their equipment in working order because of the extremely cold temperatures.
24 Hour News 8 has crews on the scene and will have more information as it develops on-air and online.