Volunteer Fire and EMS Further Details Irene Response

While Patch detailed much of the storm response during Irene in an ever-changing story and live blog, the Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department has graciously provided this release that further details their response before, during and after the storm.

Saturday, Aug. 27

More than 30 members of the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire & EMS reported to Canton, Collinsville and North Canton fire stations at 6 p.m. in anticipation of an upsurge in emergency dispatches due to the coming storm. Fire & EMS personnel responded from their stations for a 24-hour emergency shift.  

Sunday, Aug. 28

At 4:15 am. the first storm related dispatch was received as an alarm activation at Canton Intermediate School. Responding volunteer firefighters found water that had entered the elevator shaft. Throughout the remainder of the day, fire crews were dispatched for wires and trees down across roads (see photo), throughout town. In a number of cases, wires were also on fire. The Department closed roads all over town including: Torrington Avenue, North Mountain Road, Gracey Road, Country Lane, Barbourtown Road, Old Canton Road, Dowd and Dunne Avenues, Ramp Road and others, due to flooding or obstacles in the roads making them dangerous and/or in-passable. Power was out along Torrington Avenue, Freedom Drive and other locations throughout town.    

Rain continued to fall throughout the early afternoon as fire crews went door to door, along Collins Road, recommending that residents evacuate, to friends or neighbors homes, as the river was expected to crest over the road, making it very difficult if not impossible for fire apparatus to reach them in case of an emergency. At 2:15 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to 11 Silver Mine Acres for a house fire (see photo). 

Upon arrival volunteer firefighters found a mattress and box spring that had caught fire and heavy smoke conditions in a second floor bedroom. The mattress and box spring were removed from the home which was then ventilated. No injuries were reported. As the storm subsided, volunteer firefighters went to about a dozen homes to pump out basements that had significant amounts of water in them. (see photo).  While pumping out a basement, an emergency dispatch was received about an individual in the water, which turned out to be a false alarm.       

Monday, Aug. 29

 At 9:45 a.m.: About 15 Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS personnel were dispatched to Memorial Field on Powder Mill Road for an odor of propane. Upon arrival, fire crews found two, 100 gallon propane tanks on their sides in the flooded field. One of the tanks was actively leaking. Both tanks were removed by the commercial gas company and command was terminated at 1 p.m. No injuries were reported. 

On Monday afternoon and evening, volunteer firefighters continued to respond to residents requesting pump outs, of significant amounts of water, in their basements.