Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of December 13 through December 31, 2011.
We responded to 144 emergency calls for service.
These calls can be broken down into the following categories:
Fire: 6
EMS/Rescue: 79
Hazardous Condition: 3
Service Call: 8
Good Intent: 20
False Call: 27
Other: 1
Here is an overview of significant events from this period’s activities:
Wednesday, December 14 at approximately 11:21 am:
E1 was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire. E1 arrived to find one vehicle that had experienced an engine compartment fire. An employee of the business next door to this location extinguished the fire with ABC extinguisher prior to E1’s arrival. The fire appeared to have started on the top side of motor. With no further hazards, E1 went available and returned to quarters.
Wednesday, December 14 at approximately 3:57 pm:
E3 and R1 were dispatched on a reported vehicle accident with entrapment. While en-route E3 received confirmation from BPD of one entrapped. E2 was requested to respond for additional manpower. E3 arrived on scene and established I-65 command. Crewmembers observed a white four door mid-size car which had left the roadway, traveled into a wooded area and was positioned on its passenger side. E3 crew conducted initial vehicle stabilization with wood cribbing and handled patient care. R1 arrived and further stabilized the vehicle with rescue jacks. E2 arrived on scene and was directed to use a chain saw to clear trees to allow better access to the PT before using the hydraulic cutters to flap the roof. The patient was placed on a spine board, immobilized, and transported by EMS non-emergency to an area hospital.
Wednesday, December 14 at approximately 10:52 pm:
E2 was dispatched to a reported grass fire. Upon arrival, E2 found an area burning approximately 50’ X 15’. Wildland firefighting tools including a flapper and pressurized water can were used to quickly extinguish the flames. With no other hazards present, E2 returned to quarters.
Saturday, December 17 at approximately 4:43 pm:
E4 was dispatched to a report of a child locked in a vehicle. E4 arrived and found the child standing in the driver’s seat with no obvious signs of distress. E4 crew used their lock out tools to unlock the driver’s side door. The child was removed from the vehicle with no damage to the car. E4 cleared the scene and returned to quarters without further incident.
Tuesday, December 20 at approximately 9:08 am:
E1 responded to a reported vehicle fire. Upon arrival, E1 found one flatbed truck with a fully involved cab and engine compartment. E1 crew members deployed their foam line and extinguished the fire. E1 cancelled E2 and R1, which had initially been requested to respond due to the type of vehicle on fire. E1 ensured that the vehicle was fully extinguished and gained access to the engine compartment. No additional hazards were present and E1 remained on scene to complete clean up. After obtaining vehicle information and cleaning up, E1 became available and returned to quarters.
Tuesday, December 20 at approximately 10:11 am:
E4 responded to a residential fire alarm. E4 arrived on scene and was met by the home owner in the front yard who stated that they had been baking a pie and had a fire. E4’s officer noted a burnt pan and lid sitting on the walkway outside. Crewmembers placed an electric fan at the front door and exhausted the smoke out the back door. The home owner said that they were melting a stick of butter in a pan and walked away and when they returned the butter was on fire. E4 investigated and found that the fire in the pan had spread to the microwave and caused smoke damage on the cabinets above and the ceiling. The home owner had extinguished the fire with baking soda. E4’s crew unplugged the microwave and turned the breaker to the stove off before checking for extension of the fire to the cabinets. None was found. The home owner was advised to contact their insurance company. E4 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.
Tuesday, December 20 at approximately 7:06 pm:
E2 was dispatched for report of a carbon monoxide alarm activation. Upon arrival, E2’s gas monitor did not detect the presence of CO and the resident’s CO detector had not activated. The sound was concentrated only in the kitchen and investigation of the attic and basement found no hazards or obvious alarm sources. The source of the noise was finally determined to be either a hidden alarm speaker in the ceiling activated by a low battery or a Christmas ornament on the kitchen counter with its batteries going dead. The sound had stopped and E2 advised the homeowner to have a technician check their alarm system.
Sunday, December 25 at approximately 11:42 am:
All BFR units were dispatched on a reported structure fire. While en-route, the homeowner was contacted by dispatch and reported that they believed the small fire in their oven had gone out on its own. All responding units were dropped to non-emergency except for E4. Upon arrival on scene, E4 found no smoke visible and that the fire had been extinguished. All other units were cancelled. Crewmembers utilized the TIC to check the area around the oven to be certain that the fire had not spread. Grease from a turkey had spilled over the edge of the pan and ignited when it contacted the heating element in the bottom of the oven. Once the grease had burned off there were no more flames. E4 assisted with smoke removal from the residence before clearing the scene and returning to quarters.
Sunday, December 25 at approximately 11:27 pm:
All BFR units were dispatched on a reported structure fire. Dispatch advised that "the homeowner had something over the front door that caught on fire and that the fire may be extinguished". Upon E3's arrival command was established. Crew members discovered that the plastic flashing above the front door was melted off with charring to the outside and inside of the front door. The homeowner stated that "their child saw what appeared to be fireworks going off in the front yard and then saw smoke over the front door before yelling to the parents, who in turn came down stairs and started throwing buckets of water on the fire.” E2 arrived on scene and was ordered to investigate the second floor and the attic utilizing their TIC. C3 then staged all other responding units. E3's crew removed the plastic flashing and the insulation above the front door. The TIC indicated no hot spots or extension of the fire. E2 then gave the all clear of the second floor. All units besides E3 went available. E3's crew remained on the scene to assist with clean up and boarding up the front door. It is believed that a wreath affixed to the front door had somehow ignited. With no further hazards found, E3 cleared the scene and command was terminated.
Friday, December 30 at approximately 4:48 pm:
E2 was dispatched on a report of an unresponsive person. Upon arrival, E2 found 1 PT seated in a chair, pulseless and apneic. E2 immediately moved the PT to the floor and initiated CPR. BLS care was provided until EMS arrived on scene, at which time PT care was transferred. The PT was transported emergency traffic to an area hospital with on firefighter on board to provide continued patient care while en-route.
Saturday, December 31 at approximately 8:36 pm:
E2 was dispatched on a report of two kittens trapped in a washing machine. Upon arrival, E2 found two small kittens had accidentally been locked in the machine with clothes and the machine switched on before the owner heard the kittens cry. Water was in the machine and the door would not open despite multiple attempts by the owner. E2 crew members drained the water from the machine to release the door latch and removed the animals without any damage to the washer and no harm to the kittens.
