12/24/2011 Clinton Heights Christmas Eve Fire by Greg Forgea.
Early Christmas Eve morning the Clinton Heights Fire department was dispatched for a
structure fire in the Prospect Heights end of town. CHFD fire car 1 (Chief Cherubino)
reported a column of smoke while enroute and upon arrival called a signal 30 ALL HANDS fire.
He called for 2 engines and the truck company from East Greenbush as well as the FAST team
from Defreestville. CHFD arrived, secured a water supply and deployed multiple lines on the
fast moving fire. EGFD responded with Chiefs 1, 3, 4, Engines 7, 9 and Truck Company 11.
Upon arrival the crew from Engine 7 under the command of Captain Tooker was sent to the roof
for additional ventilation as the fire now had hold of the attic. The truck company under the
command of Captain Forgea was deployed to the rear of the structure to force entry and check
for fire spread. The crew from Engine 9 under the command of Asst. Chief Prestipino stretched
a 350ft 1-¾ to the rear of the structure and worked with the truck company.
Engine 9 and the truck company operated at the rear of the structure for the duration
of the fire extinguishing heavy fire in the attic as well as opening up void spaces on the
back and side of the structure. Crews operated for several hours opening up and hitting hot
spots. CHFD had a very aggressive attack on a fast moving structure and stopped it dead in
its tracks. Great job by all members of the CHFD and all the mutual aid crews.
East Greenbush operated with two engines and the truck under the command of Chief DiMartino.
EGFD responded with 16 members and operated for just under four hours, all units were back in
service at 0500. We would also like to that the East Schodack, Castleton and Schodack Valley
fire departments for the cover assignment while we operated with CHFD.
12/16/2011 Busy night for the members of the EGFD by Greg Forgea.
Members were alerted for a structure off of Brookview Rd at approximately 2130 hours.
Chief Officers arrived and confirmed a working chimney fire and held all unit. Car 1 operated
with two engines, the truck company and the rescue as well cars 3 and 4. The EGFD responded
with 23 members and operated on scene for just over a hour.
At approximately 0230 members were alerted for a commercial structure fire off of Troy Rd.
Units arrived to find a light smoke condition in the rear of the structure. The fire was
located and extinguished in the rear of the building and it appeared to be a possible electrical
fire. Car 1 operated with three engines and the squad. The EGFD operated with 21 members and
were in service within the hour.
11/29/2011 Training at Rensselaer County Training Tower by Tom Whittemore.
On 11/29/2011 Engine 7, Engine 9 and Truck 11 traveled to the Rensselear County
Training Tower, with 30 members of the Department to work with in live smoke conditions.
They were able to run several rotations with crews taking turns as search crews and attack crews
working in realistic conditions using SCBA.
11/5/2011 I-90 Vehicle Fire by Mike Benson Jr.
The East Greenbush Fire Department was transmitted for a vehicle fire at 11:21am,
on Interstate 90 westbound near the Exit 10 off ramp. Schodack Police units and State Police
units arrived and further advised dispatch that the vehicle fire was fully involved on the shoulder
of the road near Exit 10 (Miller Road exit). Engine 7 arrived with a three (3) man crew and
upon arrival found a Oldsmobile Bravada Sport Utility vehicle, which was fully involved with
heavy fire near the engine compartment.
Captain M. Benson Jr. of Engine 7 established command. Captains C. Cargain and
M. Benson Jr. began extinguishing the vehicle fire and a couple of minutes later Engine 8
arrived to assist with fire suppression and complete overhaul. The fire was determined to
be from a severe oil leak that was approximately a half mile down the shoulder of Interstate 90.
Crews were back in service after approximately 35-40 minutes.
10/18/2011 Structure fire Bloomingdale Ave. by Tom Whittemore. (rev. 10/23/2011)
On Tuesday 10/18/2011, around 9:50 am, the EGFD was dispatched to a structure fire on
Bloomingdale Ave after a EGCS bus driver reported seeing smoke coming from the residence.
Arriving daytime crews found smoke coming from the rear of the house and performed a quick
knockdown using 2 attack lines. Crews entering the front door found the family dog but attempts
to resuscitate the pet failed.
First arriving Asst. Chief Hitchcock called for mutual aid and Clinton Heights
arrived with 8-5 and Rescue 8; and then assisted with roof ventilation and overhaul
operations. Units from Schodack Valley, Castleton and Best Luther covered the district.
No civilian or firefighter injuries were known to have occurred. The cause of the fire
has not been released at this time.
10/6/2011 Car accident Troy Rd and I-90 by Greg Forgea.
At approximately 13:18 hours, Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety alerted the
East Greenbush Fire District of a personal injury accident in the area of Troy Rd and
Interstate 90. First arriving on the scene was 6262 from Bruen Rescue. They confirmed a
2- vehicle accident at the entrance to the Sefcu bank and that there would be extrication
needed. East Greenbush Fire Car 1 Chief DiMartino arrived, took Troy Rd command and
confirmed with the first due that extrication was needed.
Captain Forgea, on Engine 8, split the crew up with two members doing stabilization
and another two setting up the portable power unite and combi tool as he completed his 360
degree assessment of the scene. As that was taking place, Rescue 11 arrived on scene and staged
their tools to get ready to perform a door removal per the request of the Medic. Crews used
three hydraulic tools and completed the cut job in short time. The patient was removed and
transported to Albany Medical Center by Bruen 6207.
This was also the first call that the crew from Rescue 11 put into operation their
new vehicle identification software and bar code scanner. This tool allowed firefighters to
be aware of all locations of air bags and harden steel components. This tool was placed into
service just a few weeks ago and members are already seeing the benefits it has to the crew
10/4/2011 Live-burn adds reality to training, by Chris Lavin
East Greenbush firefighters protect overhead utility lines and other exposures
during live-fire training at the Port of Rensselaer Tuesday night.
Previously, these same busses were used to train firefighters how to perform rescue and
extrication of passengers in the event of a bus accident or rollover. Fire training included
risk awareness of shock absorbing struts and the role of vehicle fuel during a fire situation.
Firefighters also experienced the phenomenon of multiple tire failures on a large burning
vehicle. Although ample water supply was available during the drill, the training scenario
also addressed different tactics that would have to be used when faced with a bus or large
truck fire in more isolated areas such as Interstate 90.
Sixteen (16) firefighters and eight (8) Explorer Scouts operated at the drill which began
at 19:00 hours. Engine 9 (Capt. Chris Dick) made the hydrant and supplied Engine 8.
Engine 8 (Capt. Mike Benson Jr.) deployed its front bumper line and supplied Rescue 11.
Rescue 11 (Lt. Bill Sigsby) deployed two hand lines.
On-scene direction included Assistant Chief Hitchcock and Assistant Chief Prestipino.
Drill operations were supervised by Chief Ed DiMartino. Training Bureau appreciates the
extra time and effort put forth by all members in support of this training exercise.
