Evans Center Goes FAST to Lake View

MidTown - July 19, 2002 --- A structure fire at the corner of Heltz Road and Rte. 20 Friday afternoon in the Town of Hamburg required the help of several departments to fight the heat and flames.

With temperatures in the 80's and high humidity, firefighters required plenty of liquids to rehab them as they put out the fire in a two-family dwelling. Lake View Fire Chief Keith Hauser requested Evans Center's FAST (Firefighter Assist & Search Team) unit to respond to this fire next to a small motel at the same location.

The FAST unit is designed to ensure firefighter safety on scene and stands at the ready in the event a firefighter is lost, trapped or injured, conducting searches and performing rescues as necessary.

Evans Center's crew of Firefighters Kevin Dalton, Bruce Green Sr. and Mike Kauzala along with Lt. Bruce Green Jr. and Special Operations Captain Tiger Schmittendorf responded in Engine 1 and checked in with Lake View Command. With the assistance of Evans Center Assistant Chief Charlie Klepfer III and Eden Assistant Chief Matt Colvin, the team staged their tool area in front of the structure and proceeded to size up the scene.

Fortunately, their Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) services were not required. Their crew assisted in exterior overhaul of the roof line on the 1 - 4 side of the building after the fire was extinguished and interior operations were completed.

Lake View was also assisted by Armor, Big Tree, Eden, Highland, Lake Shore, North Evans, Scranton and Woodlawn. Jim McCullough, Deputy Commissioner of Erie County's Division of Fire Safety and Town of Hamburg Police Department Fire Investigators were on location to assist Lake View.