Two injured in morning fire at housing complex in Fall River

Fall River firefighters responded Tuesday morning to a fire at a housing complex in the city.

According to the Fall River Firefighter Union, just after 8:45 a.m., units were dispatched to a box alarm to 351 Charles Street, the Sunset Hill housing development. Apparatus responding for this alarm included Engine 2, 4, 5, Ladder 2 and Car 3.

While enroute, dispatch updated members with information that there were calls from the development reporting heavy black smoke and fire from the building. The District Chief in Car 3 informed dispatch to fill the box with a still alarm response adding an additional Ladder company (L-4) and Fall River Fire Dept. Rescue 1.

Engine 5 was first to arrive and reported heavy smoke on Bowen Street. The crew of Engine 5 operated a hose line to attack the fire. The crew of Ladder 2 placed a ladder to the roof and inspected the roof vents for any extension to the rubber roof membrane. The crew of Engine 4 was ordered to check the 2 units for fire extension and do a primary search in both units. Engine 2 then arrived and checked for fire extension in the remaining unit and called for a hose line as there was minor fire extension. The crew of Ladder 4 was a Rapid Intervention Team until the fire was knocked down and assisted with ventilation operations.

The Union noted that the fire was under control in about 15 minutes and declared extinguished in approximately 25 minutes. All units cleared just after 11:15 a.m.

The damage occurred to a storage unit under an apartment with multiple combustibles including plastic bottles as well as nail care products and acetone. The damage extended to the common back entrance up the stairs and to the exterior. Notifications were made to the fire investigator, Building Inspector Hathaway, as well as Liberty Utilities, the local gas company.

There were two civilian injuries during the fire, both minor, and no firefighter injuries. Total damage was kept to a minimum due to an aggressive interior attack in the basement and door control throughout the firefighting operation.

The Union stated that the 4 firefighters staffed on the first engine played an important role in the incident as they had to deploy over 400″ of hose line to the setback building in the middle of the complex. Only two of the apparatus have 4 person crews, an NFPA standard. The remaining 8 apparatus only have 3 person crews.