Former Derby Factory Outlet Building Fire: Binghamton NY

A two-alarm fire began to blaze this morning in the city of Binghamton, New York, at around 07:40 am, to where heavy smoke could be seen pouring out of a four-story brick building which was the former Derby Fashion Outlet building at 301 Water Street around Clinton Street. The high volume of smoke was reported being seen from several neighboring community around the City of Binghamton

The fire response was upgraded to a second alarm while firefighters heading to the scene, Binghamton Fire Chief Daniel Thomas said.

Crews remained outside the building to fight the fire due to the heat. These types of fires can be especially difficult to knock down and combat for extinguishment. The warehouse was believed to be abandoned also.

When they arrived, firefighters saw fire coming from multiple floors in the four-story brick building and heavy smoke, Thomas said. Because of the intense heat and fears of a possible collapse, firefighters set up about 75 feet from the building and poured water into the building using aerial trucks.

Part of the building collapsed as Binghamton firefighters were entering their fifth hour of putting out a fire at 301 Water Street in the former Derby Factory Outlet building. There are no reports of injuries.

After firefighting operations were into the fifth hour, portions of the third & fourth floors, and the roof had collapsed; another major collapse happened about 45 minutes later. The building is a total loss, Thomas said.

About 40 firefighters were on the scene at the height of the fire that was under control, but not extinguished by mid-morning. No one was hurt in the fire.

Due to a fire at the Derby Building located at 301 Water Street in downtown Binghamton, the Broome County Health Department had issued a respiratory alert for those in the vicinity of the fire. This included, center city extending northeast between Front Street and Brandywine Ave Route 7. Humid conditions had prolonged smoke dissipation in the area. Those located within this area were advised to take precautions and to avoid unnecessary smoke inhalation by staying indoors and avoid travel in the area of the warehouse fire till containment/extinguishment was completed by the Binghamton Fire department.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Brooklyn NY: A Fatal 5 Alarm Blaze

On February 19, 2011 at around 6:30 pm, that evening, a five-alarm fire response was rung out for a fire at an apartment building located in Flatbush of Brooklyn, New York at 346 East 29th Street. Nearly 200 firefighters responded to the scene to battle the blaze.

A "Defensive Mode" of fighting the fire was conducted upon arrival of NYFD fire fighting crews because conditions were just too intense on the inside the apartment building.

"Conditions changed rapidly. The fire intensified, the windows failed. Due to the heavy wind, it blew the fire in, on the members on the upper floors...a blowtorch effect. It actually chased them down the hallway," said New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Stephen Moro.

"This was bad because of the wind," stated Fire Chief Edward Kilduff, "We had to evacuate very quickly because basically the fire chased us right down the hall and down the stairs

Strong winds fanned the flames which took 200 firefighters more than nine hours to contain.

Fire officials say 60 firefighters were treated for injuries along with 11 building residents.

A wind-whipped blaze tore like a "blow torch" through a Brooklyn apartment building, killing a retired school guidance counselor who was discovered on the top floor of apartment building several hours after the fire was extinguished. The victim, Mary Feagin, 64, was described by residents as a wonderful neighbor who had lived in the building for roughly 30 years. "She cared for everybody in the apartment, in the building. She cared for everybody in the building, for everybody's well-being. She was just a wonderful, wonderful woman," said one of the apartment tenants stated. The city medical examiner stated the cause of death is pending further testing and investigation.

A dispatching error delayed the response of a second engine company to Saturdays deadly 5 alarm fire in Brooklyn, the FDNY is launching an internal probe into the matter.

A front door to the forth-floor apartment where the fire began was left open, feed the vicious flames. The open door helped fuel the blaze causing the fire to “blowtorch” throughout the building.

Uniform Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy says the staff cuts caused delays in getting water on the Saturday night blaze in Brooklyn.

The FDNY says that an open apartment door helped fuel the blaze, and it stoked by heavey winds.

The firefighters union said the response to the fire was hampered by new city rules that put four firefighters instead of five on some trucks.

New York City officials denied that clam.

The New York City Fire Department says the 5 alarm fire spread so quickly because someone left the door open in the apartment where it stated with strong winds fanned the flames the fatal night.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but NYFD Deputy Chief Moro said it did not appear to be suspicious.

FoX News: Brooklyn Blaze Kills 1, Injures More Than 20 Firefighters

NY1: Woman's Body Found In Wake Of Massive Brooklyn Fire

NY Daily News: Five-alarm blaze rips through Brooklyn building; 1 dead, 20 firefighters & 11 residents wounded

NY Post: Five-alarm Brooklyn fire leaves one dead

NY1: UFA: Engine Co. Reductions Hindered Response To Fatal Brooklyn Fire

NY Daily News: Open door turned Brooklyn fire into deadly inferno, fire officials say

The New York Times: Error Delayed Fire Dept. in Fatal Brooklyn Blaze

NY1: FDNY Investigates Delayed Response To Fatal Brooklyn Fire

(AP): New York City firefighters union blames fatal fire on staff shortage

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Binghamtom NY: Fatal Apartment Fire, One Person Dead In Blaze

Binghamtom New York: There was a fatal morning apartment fire yesterday that resulted in a tragic loss of life to one of the nine tenants that resided in the building. One person was found dead on the second floor.

Crews were called to an apartment building at 116 Henry St around 11 a.m.. They were able to get the fire under control quickly and most of the damage was contained to the second floor.

"First arriving companies did in fact find smoke showing from the building, made a very aggressive attack inside searching for fire, did find and knock down, I'm sad to say we did have one fatality" said Binghamton Fire Chief Daniel Thomas.

It was reported that the man who died in the fire and was a tenant of the apartment building had initially exited & escaped the burning building but re-entered to help fight the fire.

Once you have exited and escape any burning structural fire you should NEVER re-enter. In the case of this fire we will never know exactly why there was a re-enter by the fire victim, but the tragic result was the loss of his life.

No firefighters were injured in the blaze and surviving tenants were not injured also.

Fire officials believe the fire started in the victim's apartment. Investigators are stll looking into what started the fire.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Fire Fighter Anthem - This One's For The Firefighters

Today is Friday, and over on Twitter every Friday there's this thing called #FollowFriday that you tweet out those that you follow over on that social meda platform. Well, I decided for my #FollowFriday for today to do a "SHOUT OUT" to all Fire Fighters, EMS, and Emergency Services people to say Thank-You for all you do.

The following video with Carlos Pozo's created 'Fire Fighter Anthem" song is one that just gets you pumped up with emotion for the career field.

This video was played during the Department of Defense - DoD Fire and Emergency Services Awards Banquet that was held in Chicago at the end of last month (August). Special Thanks to Fire Fighter Carlos Pozo for the song and Sarah Brockman for putting the video together.

Please visit Carlos Pozo's website and consider donating: http://firefighteranthems.com/index.html.

Let Us Not Forget Those Brother & Sisters We Have Lost.

We Will Never Forget, We Will Always Remember!

Thank You Fire Fighter Carlos Pozo for the song!

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)