Yes, I know its been a while since my last post, but here are some updates starting with the fire in Jordan River on the morning (very early 3:30 am) of May 14. A request for mutual aid was made by the Shirley Fire Chief for an engine and tender to attend a structure fire in Jordan River with a 1000 gallon propane tank as an immediate exposure. Arriving on scene, Chief Ray of Shirley had a shorthanded crew working one line while the remainder of his members were setting up for a tanker shuttle. Crews faced a fire in a pump house, a generator shed, a large workshop, a 30 foot steel boat inside a wooden structure all fully involved along with the large propane tank immediately adjacent to the fire and a house that was starting to smoke from radiant heat. Due to the propane tank, apparatus was staged back on the roadway making the need for very long hose lays. Crews were successful in cooling the propane tank and saving the house with only minimal heat damage to one side. (enough to break the windows). Another tender was called from Otter Point (call was originally made to OP as well as Sooke but with the radio system not working well in this area, that part of the transmission was lost in the original call for help) Tenders had to drive all the way back to Sherringham Lighthouse to fill up and return. While the fire was brought under control but far from out, a second call for another structure fire came in, this one on Anderson Road at the Shirley / Otter Point Border. The Shirley Engine stayed behind while the Shirley tender and Sooke Engine responded to the second call for help. Another engine was called from Otter Point as well as additional tenders from Metchosin and East Sooke FDs. Luckily the second fire was quickly contained to the attic where it started as a result of a chimney fire. With all the additional tenders now on scene crews were sent back to Jordan River to finally extinguish the first fire. The fire began when the propane powered welder the owner was using due to the power being out set the shed on fire and quickly spread when one of the 100 lb propane tanks attached to it BLEVEd. The second tank also let go and has still not been located. Considering the potential for many things to go wrong on this site, a great job was done by all firefighters and no injuries were reported. The homeowner even located all his cats safe and sound.
