Resiential Hot Water Heater on Fire - Newton Court
By Secretary Mike Cline
March 16, 2020
At ~ 5:29 PM, Westmoreland 911 dispatched Station 20 (Murrysville VFC) for a hot water heater on fire in a home on Newton Court. Station 20 responded with Truck 20 (4 firefighters), while Assistant Chief 20 went directly to the scene, and 4 additional firefighters on standby at the station prepared to crew Engine 20. Westmoreland 911 also dispatched the following stations to support Station 20: Station 78 (Sardis VFC), Station 64 (White Valley VFC), Station 22 (Export VFC), and Station 610 (Murrysville Medic One). Assistant Chief 20 was first on scene, established command, found no smoke or fire coming from the structure, and upon investigation found that the electric water heater in the home's basement had briefly caught fire, but had self-extinguished. Command 20 returned all responding units except for Truck 20, and disconnected the power supply to the water heater. Upon Truck 20's arrival, its crew used a Thermal Imaging Camera to ensure that the water heater was cooling, and that the fire had not spread. Finding that the water heater was cooling and no evidence of fire migration, Command 20 returned Truck 20 to service and station.
Units:
Truck 20, Engine 20
Mutual Aid:
Sardis VFC (Station 78 - Engine 78), White Valley VFC (Station 64 - Engine 64), Export VFC (Station 22 - Engine 22-1), Murrysville Medic One (Station 610)