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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 13, 2008 18:08:28 GMT -5
As only hearing this from news feeds maybe some one can address it as such... all i know is about 440p today in the 200 blk of Washington St in Conshohoken Pa...a multi-unit Condo fire has or is running at this time....any one have more details.....
wfmz 69 news report....
"Firefighters are waging a battle against a massive, multi-alarm fire at a newly-built, unoccupied apartment building in Conshohocken, Montgomery County. It's in the 200 block of Washington Street. Flames have destroyed the Riverwalk at Millenium building and spread to at least one occupied building, which is located across the river from the Schuylkill Expressway ."
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Post by smokeater342 on Aug 13, 2008 18:23:01 GMT -5
Up to 6 alarms now, 5 five story buildings heavily involved, talking about 400-500 people homeless after this...command is rushing to back trucks off from the buildings for fear of collapse...already talking about this is going to be the biggest dollar loss in Montgomery County history, total cost of the apartment complex is 51 million, i'm listening to a Montgomery County live feed...I hear anything new i'll post it.
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 13, 2008 19:20:21 GMT -5
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Post by NoFear219 on Aug 14, 2008 1:13:46 GMT -5
8 alarms total , Broomall Boys Covered the Rescue for all of Norristown. Took some Pics after I got outta class , no fire tho will be up in the morning
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 14, 2008 8:27:33 GMT -5
A replay of the posted video gives more details then when posted originally, an est of loss was indicated at least $ 10 Million...
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Post by NoFear219 on Aug 14, 2008 13:24:58 GMT -5
A replay of the posted video gives more details then when posted originally, an est of loss was indicated at least $ 10 Million... 50 to 80 Million Dollars |
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Post by shakey25 on Aug 15, 2008 17:36:55 GMT -5
I was there with a Task Force sent from Chester County to help out at the scene from 6a-12 on Thursday. It was interesting to see in person.
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Post by shakey25 on Aug 16, 2008 8:22:12 GMT -5
The Task Force consisted of Squad 5, Chief 21, Engine 21-2, Engine 25-1, Tower 28, Rescue 33, Utility 39, Squad 45, Squad 46 Chief 53 and Rescue 53 with a total of 43 Firefighters for staffing. We were originally going to help wet down what a crane was going to knock down but the crane did not get set up until after 1300, we were assigned 0600-1200. Engine 21-2 and Rescue 33 were released early around 0930 and the rest of the units cleared after lunch around 1230.
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 16, 2008 9:13:41 GMT -5
revisit the link above for 'indicated cause'....noted up to 100 million dollar loss now....which may not include fire equipment damaged...
at least 1/2 of displaced will need new houseing sources...
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Post by shakey25 on Aug 16, 2008 21:26:42 GMT -5
  There are a few more on the computer at the firehouse, I will try and put a few of those up sometime soon. |
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 17, 2008 7:51:46 GMT -5
i see from pix copper was at least used in plumbing..let the recycling begin....
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Post by shakey25 on Aug 17, 2008 22:03:53 GMT -5
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 18, 2008 12:44:14 GMT -5
now for the legal side of this mess...
Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Conshohocken Blaze---
CONSHOHOCKEN (CBS 3) ¯
"The official cause of the 8-alarm Conshohocken blaze has been released as well as information regarding a lawsuit against the builder.
Some of the tenants have moved back into their apartments in the Riverview Complex, but a couple residents are claiming negligence in a class-action lawsuit.
The District Attorney has found that the destructive fire was started by sparks from a welders' torch being used to repair several improperly stalled metal balconies.
The fire displaced nearly 400 people and destroyed two buildings.
Attorneys have released documents regarding the class action suit on behalf of the residents questioning why contractors were burning inside of two highly combustible wood buildings under construction.
"Using a 3,000 degree acetylene torch in a forest of wood construction projects is like using matches in a barn full of hay," said attorney, Robert J. Mongeluzzi.
The attorneys believe the fire spread so quickly to the occupied buildings because the attics of the buildings did not have sprinkler systems and the firewalls in the buildings did not extend to the rooftop.
"A fire like this should never occur. Not with modern technology," said Mongeluzzi.
Attorneys claim the National Fire Protection Association Code requires sprinklers in attics of all 5-story buildings.
"There are five stories behind us, and there are no sprinklers in the attic."
The developer, O'Neil Properties, has yet to comment on the destructive blaze.
The lawsuit could possibly expand from 5 tenants to several hundred, and the attorneys are calling on O'Neil Properties to create a fund to help the displaced tenants."
Here we go...civil action begins.....Gov Rendell did take a tour.....
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 22, 2008 14:28:01 GMT -5
bandaid or pre election posture.....
from the Pottstown Mercury.
Commissioners worried about lack of fire protection
By: Margaret Gibbons, Special to The Mercury
08/21/2008
"The Montgomery County commissioners want tougher fire protection measures incorporated into municipal building and fire codes in the wake of last week's catastrophic blaze that destroyed two of the four occupied apartment buildings in The Riverwalk at Millennium complex in Conshohocken.
County commissioners' Chairman James R. Matthews Thursday said he has learned that Conshohocken's codes did call for fire protection measures such as sprinklers in attics of wooden structures, but that the developer, O'Neill Properties Group, received a variance from the borough eliminating that requirement.
Matthews said he also has learned that other municipalities do not even have those requirements in their codes.
Since last week's blaze, Matthews said he finds it "really unnerving" to look up at the common roofs of assisted-living facilities, nursing home facilities, apartment houses and even business centers in the county.
He said he cannot help but wonder what would have happened at one of these facilities if there was a comparable fire that broke out in the early morning hours and "involving a bunch of people without agility."
"To hear from specialists that these code variances are tolerated in Pennsylvania where you end up with these fire traps, basically . . .," said Matthews.
"We have tens of thousands of people living under roofs with no sprinklers, no fire walls," he said.
"I would think that if you are going to tolerate these wooden trusses, which also are known as 'firemen killers,' you should certainly have hand-in-hand a requirement for sprinklers in these common areas," said Matthews. "
patience on all fronts.....due process begins.....
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Post by bearnpa1 on Aug 27, 2008 6:06:51 GMT -5
It would be very curious to find out what these properties were actually 'renting' for.. as leases....to think...about it as such....
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