Around 2325 hours EST, scanner feed for the Miami County Police, Fire and EMS – Central area began broadcasting about a possible tornado that may have touched down in Troy, Ohio.
INCIDENT STATUS
Lots of damage has been reported, along with many power lines down and gas leaks.
Debris and damaged to commercial buildings have shutdown the downtown corridor.
One report of a chimney into a house was called in with all occupants self-evacuated with no injuries reported.
Traffic collisions have also occurred with one vehicle reported as having a major fuel leak.
Northbound train in Troy is currently not running as power is out in the area. Services are trying to get it back moving, may be blocking Market Street.
RESPONSES
Both Fire and Police are out responding to calls for service and assisting with rescues.
INFRASTRUCTURE
First Responders are finding power outages in and around neighborhoods, business districts and impacts to their CAD/MDCs in their vehicles.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS – Through the Eyes of Social Media
“Tornados in Ohio in January… Yeah, the planet’s totally fine. Everything’s cool. Nothin’ to see here.” – Social Media user.
“Tornado Warning in Troy / Saint Paris / Christiansburg, Ohio” Until 2245 EST – NWS Wilmington, OH
“tornado just tore up my downtown so that’s cool, tornadoes in jan in ohio, totally normal” – Social Media user
“Tornado warning in central Ohio with the convection developing and headed toward southern ON overnight. Not expecting any tornadoes here tonight!” – Weather media.
“We are supposed to have snow storms in Ohio not tornadoes!” – Social Media.
“Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, remain possible through tonight over portions of the South and northward into parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid Atlantic.” – NWS
TORNADO HISTORY
1/4/2019: 50 tornadoes occurred from Iowa to Ohio on Memorial Day. – News Media.
4/3/2019: Tornado peak season runs from April through July. – News Media.
1940 – 2018: 8 Tornadoes during this time period. – News Media.
ABOUT TROY, OHIO
The City of Troy is the county seat of Miami and located about 19 miles north of Dayton. Population was last recorded at 26,132 residents in the 2018 census. It is considered to be the 61st largest city in the State of Ohio.
The Police Department is located at 124 East Main Street. It has 38 Officers and three civilian employees, 3 divisions (Patrol, Detective and Administration).
The Fire Department was established in 1850 with the Troy Hook & Ladder Company and the Troy Bucket Company.
The Department formally organized in the Fall of 1857. During current times, it now has three fire stations with 37 firefighter-paramedics, a one Training Lieutenant, two Assistant Chiefs and a Fire Chief. They serve a 74.2 square miles within the city and in three townships. They average about 5,000 incidents annually.
In March of 2019, we took a trip over to the Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle to see if we could catch a glimpse of any infamous fishing vessels or fire boats. We were lucky this time and found SFD’s Marine One repositioning themselves in the marina.
A perfect and cold day to photograph them in action and worth the trip over, no matter where their destination was on that day.
M/V MARINE ONE also known as Fire Boat 1, is a FireStorm 50 (50 foot) model fireboat constructed by MetalCraft Marin of Kingston, Ontario (Canada).
It can reach speeds up to about 30 knots and fitted with a 200-gallon foam tank for chemically-fueled fires as well as land-based firefighting, rescue and salvage operations in contaminated environments. Additional capabilities include accomodate EMS treatment, pinpoint people in the water and other hot spots through a imaging camera.
We are alternating eastbound and westbound traffic through the eastbound lanes. The westbound lanes will be blocked to allow for safe clean up. Expect delays. Traffic is flowing slowly.
UPDATE 1 | 2145 Hours PST
The California Highway Patrol – Moorpark Division has shutdown both directions of SR 126, about three miles west of the Los Angeles County line.
Ventura County Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire inside a semi-truck cab that had been stopped on the highway.
Photo Credit | CHP Moorpark
There have been no injuries reported to the driver, others or fire crews.
Ventura County Fire resources were dispatched at 1929 hours on Friday, January 10, 2020, to a structure fire in the 100 block of Alviso Drive in Camarillo Estates, California.
Photo Images Credit | VCFD PIO
Resources
Fire Units: Ventura County FD’s B14, 2, 21, 28; DIV 11, 12; Engines 155, 161, 35, 50, 55, 64, 68; EMS 48, 63; IO12; IV13; LA57; LOGS; ME125, 134, 6; MED451; SQ50; Trucks 35, 54 and 68.
Human Services: American Red Cross.
Traffic Control: CHP – Ventura Division.
Operations
First due units arriving on-scene reported the fire in the attic of a two-story very large home.
Due to being a difficulty for crews to reach the attic fire, a second-alarm was requested through Dispatch.
Primary searches throughout the very large home was reported with the fire being well-established in the attic.
Firefighters’ egress of this fire for over 40 minutes proved successfully resulting in a knockdown of the fire.
They will be on-scene for many more hours throughout the night for overhaul operations, as well as working to cool the fire and running themselves and their equipment through a DECON line.
Evacuations
All six occupants were either self-evacuated or helped by others and have been accounted for. They have been displaced by the fire but the American Red Cross is on-scene assisting them for the evening.
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Posted 1/10/2020 @ 2215 Hours PST
Firefighters from the Austin Fire were dispatched to a commercial building fire located in the 6800 block of East US 290 in Austin (Travis County), Texas.
First Due Images
Firefighters arriving on-scene were met with this fiery image of the structure being fully engulfed and the Incident Commander escalated the first alarm to a second alarm around 1513 PST/1713 CST.
Firefighters quickly egressed on the fire and were able to knock down most of the fire aroudn 1748 PST/1948 CST with containing damage to the fire building. Exposure buildings were saved and not being reported as damaged or destroyed.
The fire building, a 16-unit structure is considered to be a total loss.
Location of Fire Building
These are the Menlo at Mueller, luxurious homes centralized near Highways 290 and 183 and near Interstate 5, as well as near Austin’s city center, shopping, dining and recreational districts.
Credit | Zillow
Cause
No word on the cause of the fire and no preliminary report has been released yet.
The cause is under investigation.
Injuries
No reports of injuries to residents, the public or to firefighters were reported.
Evacuee Resources
The American Red Cross was called to help an unknown number of residents. The property manager was also said to be assisting with their tenants’ needs.
ABOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin is a vibrant City that proudly is host to many great venues with shopping, entertainment, recreational and additional opportunities in mind for all walks of life. It is also a fabulous place to photograph, as you can see in the image below. Credit: Michael Barera (under the Creative Common or CC SA 4.0)
The City is the Capital of Texas and the largest in Travis County and considered one of the most populated cities in Texas. Texas is home to 964,254 residents, as of their 2018 census records.
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 1/10/20 @ 1850 PST/2050 CST.
Today, we remember the four lives that were stolen from us back on January 5, 1995, when an arson fire set by Martin Pang, the son of the owners of the Mary Pang Chinese Food Company in hopes of collecting a large insurance sum of money.
Credit | US Fire Administration
A man described by his ex-wifes and former girlfriends, say his threats of violence came in the form of setting fires and they reported his intentions to the Seattle Police and Fire Departments prior to the deadly incident.
The determined cause of the fire was ruled as arson and Martin Pang, the son was charged. He would flee to Brazil knowing they have no extridite policy. After three years of diplomatic delays, he would come back to the United States and make a plea deal instead of fighting to be extridited.
In the end, he was charged with 35 years but would only serve 20 years for “good behavior”. Challenges to allow him to be released sooner than his sentence, all efforts failed and angered many.
CALL DETAILS
At 1902 hours, Seattle Fire Dispatch initially received a 9-1-1 call from a reporting party, a band member who occupied one of the rooms within an adjacent building to the Mary Pang Chinese Food Company warehouse. They reported smoke seeping into their practice room.
Courtesy | Pierce Co Firefighters
A 1st alarm or full response, as it is known today, was dispatched by the Seattle Fire Alarm Center (FAC). Five engines, two ladder trucks, one aid unit (BLS), one Medic unit (ALS), Air Support and two Command Staff were immediately deployed at 1903 PST.
They would respond to the 800 block of 7th Avenue in Seattle, Washington on January 5, 1995. This was known as the Mary Pang Chinese Food warehouse, a food-processing plant that prepared pre-made food that was distributed to area grocery stores.
This building had been operating successfully in this location for 20 years prior to this incident. It was located in the busy portion of the International District of Seattle and only a few blocks from the former Kingdome.
FIRE OPERATIONS
First due units reported a well-involved building fire and pulled a pre-connect to a nearby hydrant. Some reported fire at the rear of the structure and from a small shed, this was later identified as an employee lunchroom that had been “added on” to the structure. One of the crews initiated a forcible entry, then were tasked with raising ground ladders to proceed with Roof Operations and to cut a hole in the roof for vertical ventilation.
Fire crews were working on opposite sides of the building. Once inside, they found a few spot fires and immediately knocked them down. These were mostly near the ground floor level. Crews were working in adverse conditions that included zero visibility, having to move around equipment and stored materials blindly and very slowly. Some interior temps were reported hot enough to keep them in crouched positions but they did not distinguish as being abnormal.
Fire in some parts of the building were cool, while crews found a small fire burning in the basement of the building. Initials reports indicate they thought there were only two floors and were unaware of a basement in this building.
At some point during fire operations, the building was said to have rumbled and flames erupted from the basement as the floor began to collapse. An unanticipated flaw (one of many key issues raised by the Fire Investigative report) in the structure, caused the “pony wall” to fail which dropped the ends of the floor joists and sending sections of wood and concrete floor down into the basement. Flames then began to spread across the underside of the roof and what was on the ground floor began to catch on fire in a rapid flashover sequence.
Two Fire Lieutenants and two Firefighters also disappeared into the fire, while seven firefighters and one Lieutenant bailed out of windows and doors suffering burns to their necks, ears, wrists and one hand. No one on the outside knew what was happening on the inside.
Hot and heavy smoke began billowing out of doors and through a small hole in the roof where they ventialated the smoke. Smoking Firefighters’ PPE (Firefighters protection personal equipment) were visible as those on the outside watched the rapid events unfolding before their eyes.
1st Alarm units were aware of the arson threat but they were unaware of the multiple rennovations done on this building over its 85-year history. There were several crucial failures on this day.
THE WORST NIGHTMARE EVER
Abandon the Building tones were broadcasted over radio transmissions. The FAC notifified command that they received an emergency activation alert. It was determined that it was not coming from one but two firefighter radios. Later learned, four firefighters were found to be missing.
Credit | FEMA
Search-and-rescue missions were immediately coordinated by crews to look for the missing four and tracking their last-known-locations. Rescue efforts continued but then the risk to the rescuers would be far greater to them.
All efforts were ceased due to the amount of time missing and extreme risk to rescuers themselves. This would weigh on many firefighters then, now and most likely, in the future.
Firefighters were forced to abandon the building and return to firefighting suppression efforts, including using masterstreams to control the fire.
All four firefighters were rescued from the demolished building but it would take a total of three sombering days.
LESSONS LEARNED
A lot has changed within the City of Seattle and around the country, since this incident happened in 1995, but we can tell you that this event and what transpired still affects firefighters, both active and retired to this day. It brings tears to many and anger to others as they say this could have been easily prevented.
Since, this date – a lot has happened in the wake of this terrible tragedy.
Survivors (Firefighters Families) were awarded $450,000 – $5.6 Million in damage lawsuits against the City of Seattle. SFD, 75% liable. Martin Pang, 25% liable.
Seattle Fire has made great strides to changing their accountability, risk-management, pre-fire planning, 360* size ups of their buildings, progress reports to name just a few.
THE SEATTLE FIRE FOUR – Through the Eyes of the World
We would like to dedicate this post to the Seattle Fire Four, who lost their lives on this day in 1995. We will continue to remember your accomplishments in the living, the impacts you had on your communities and the Legacies you left us all to behold.
Today, we remember those Lost and their Legacies left behind. It is what we can only do in the present.
Credit | Seattle Fire/IAFF Local 27
SEATTLE FIRE DEATHS – Always Remember, Never Forgotten
1891 | Firefighter Herman Larson.
1899 | Fire Engineer Charles E Brabon.
1910 | Captain JN Longfellow.
1914 | Firefighter Patrick Cooper.
1917 | Battalion Chief Fred G. Gilham and Firefighter Ole G. Rust.
1920 | Firefighter Charles F. Lacasse.
1923 | Captain Horace E. Roberts.
1924 | Firefighter William E. Shuberg.
1925 | Firefighter Cecil McKenzie.
1927 | Firefighter Darwin T. Lund.
1928 | Firefighter Charles E. Wheeler.
1937 | Fire Captain Albert S. Wolpert.
1938 | Firefighter Theodore R. Cousland.
1943 | Firefighter Luther D. Bonner.
1945 | Captain Andrew G. Beattie.
1947 | Firefighter Fred O. Larson.
1949 | Firefighters Jack W. McGee and Glen S. Murphy.
1957 | Firefighter James Willey.
1964 | Firefighter John F. Herron.
1966 | Captain Harold W. Webb.
1968 | Firefighter Henry C. Gronnerud.
1976 | Firefighter Gerald Miller.
1983 | Firefighter Lisa J. LOng.
1984 | Firefighter Mary R. Mathews.
1987 | Firefighter Robert d. Earhart.
1989 | Lieutenant Mathew W. Johnson.
1991 | Firefighter Donald L. Perry.
1995 | Firefighters James T. Brown and Randall R. Terlicker. Lieutenants Walter D. Kilgore and Gregory A. Shoemaker.
1996 | Firefighter Gary V. Medica.
2004 | Deputy Chief Gerald N. Moberg.
2005 | Firefighter Nathaniel Ford.
2008 | Firefighter Timothy J. Heelan and Battalion Chief James H. Scragg.
2009 | Battalion Chief David H. Jacobs and Firefighter Stephen Lohr.
2010 | Deputy Chief Jesse F. Youngs.
2011 | Firefighter Jeffrey Brit.
2013 | Firefighter Jess Hernandez.
2014 | Firefighters Keith I. Johnson and Wallace F. Goulet.
2015 | Firefighter Joshua Milton.
2016 | Firefighters Tristan Smith, Scott Steed and Captain Craig Aman.
2018 | Firefighter Marvin Larry.
Sources: FEMA/Homeland Security, Seattle Fire, IAFF Local 27, Social Media, news media.
Seattle Police are being faced with protesters throwing bottles and rocks at their Officers. Those that were the culprits have been arrested and taken to jail.
Several suspects were seen with sticks in hand. Those who had damaged patrol cars were being investigated and searched for by police to be arrested.
After protesters began dissipating around 1330 hours, traffic and bus routes were being allowed to resume as normal. Officers demobilzed from the downtown area and recalled to their respective service areas.
They are still continuing to monitor areas as needed.
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 1500 hours PST
#SeattlePolice #SeattlePD #Demonstrations
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 1/5/2020 – 1235 PST
Seattle Police released a presser via Twitter late this morning that they would be providing public safety and traffic management services to two separate demonstrations, one with a permit to City Hall Plaza and one without.
As the demonstrations began to heat up, the second group began to occupy City Hall Plaza and refused to move out. After a short time, they finally were dispelled from the area, enabling the permitted first group to move-into the area.
Credit | @SeattlePD
Sounded like someone was involved in an altercation with Officers and claimed he was hurt. Seattle Fire was called to respond to the area. No Officers were hurt and the situation was quickly brought under control.
While Officers were clearing the building, they found a potential deadly weapon left behind. In looking at this photo, you can see what looks like cloth over the board with bolts protruding.
Credit | @SeattlePD
If you look more closer, the above two photos relate to the one down below. Officers are taking all precautions to protect the public and all fellow Law Enforcement. They will arrest anyone who causes harm against any and all persons.
Seattle believes in free speech, but to cause bodily harm or property destruction will not be tolerated and its Police forces will attempt to stop any mayhem from occurring.
Seattle Police are using bicycles, fencing and other barriers to allow both groups to demonstrate peacefully.
This is an on-going protest.
#SeattlePolice #SeattlePD #Demonstrations
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 1/5/2020 – 1235 PST
