Evans
Center goes mutual-aid
on the
beach
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for
more photos
Mid-Town – March 10, 2002
Nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow... and in this case, 60+MPH winds directly off Lake Erie... could keep firefighters from doing their job early Sunday morning in the Town of Evans. A fire above a former hardware store was reportedly sparked by power lines "electrifying" the side of the building and extending into the structure.
The blaze ripped through the second floor apartments before the Niagara Mohawk Power Company could arrive to cut power to the two-story building at the corner of Kennedy Ave. and Old Lake Shore Road.
Lake Erie Beach Chief Bill Hamm called for assistance from Angola, Brant, Evans Center, Farnham, Newton-Abbott, North Evans and Woodlawn to help quell the flames. Three ladder pipes from Angola, Newton-Abbott and Woodlawn were used in the exterior attack on the second floor which contained occupied apartments.
Despite being fueled by gusting winds off the Lake Erie Shore and hampered by freezing temperatures, the fire was extinguished with no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.
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| This was the scene across the street from the fire as 60 MPH winds off Lake Erie fed rolling waves and whipped the fire through the building |
Woodlawn's ladder tower operates over the top of Angola's ladder pipe |
This is the charred remains of the second floor apartments over the former hardware store |
Evans Center Engine 1 responded and tapped the hydrant at Old Lake Shore and Garfield street to feed the ladder tower brought in from Woodlawn in the Town of Hamburg. Evans Center's crew remained on the scene long after the main body of fire was knocked down to help in extinguishing hotspots and repacking the hundreds of feet of large diameter supply hose used to bring water to the scene.
This large scale fire was just one of dozens of incidents that Town of Evans volunteers handled since the temperature dropped almost 50 degrees over a three hour period Saturday night, bringing freezing rain, sleet and snow accompanied by wind gusts up to 70 MPH. Most crews had been out most of the night handling calls for downed wires and trees and small fires.
Lake Erie Beach was assisted on the scene by Fire Coordinator Jim McCullough from Erie County's Department of Emergency Services, Town of Evans Code Enforcement Officers Chuck LaBarbera, Dan Bartha and John Latimore and the Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center. Lake Erie Beach's Ladies Auxiliary and Stroh's Tavern provided food and refreshments and a warm place for the firefighters to take a break.
Photos by: Tiger Schmittendorf/EVANS CENTER PIO
Firefighting is not for everyone – but volunteering can be. Evans Center offers limited duty memberships in the areas of Fire/Rescue only, Fire Police only, Emergency Medical Services Only, Water Rescue only, or Associate only. Associate members support the fire department through administrative, technology, fund-raising, clerical and other non-emergency business functions.
If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact the Evans Center Fire Company at 716/549-1221 or fill our our feedback form or e-mail to: info@ecvfc.org
