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BRIGADE RESPONDS TO

RESTAURANT FIRE

Harbour Grace, NL

Robert Lynch, PR

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade was dispatched to Victoria’s Garden, a Restaurant/Laundromat located on Harvey Street in the Port town at 9:10 p.m. Sunday February 13th/05. Three pages from dispatch back to back signaled the gravity of the situation to firefighters long before details of the call were radioed to the Fire Station.

Firefighters responded to the scene with their Front Run Pumper #4, pumper #5, units #3 and #2 as well as the Utility Truck Unit #6. Three officers and a full compliment of firefighters arrived on the scene to find smoke puffing from the eves windows and peaks of the structure. Wearing full protective clothing and donning Self Contained Breathing Apparatus the initial attack team entered the restaurant through the main door on the West side.

Firefighters placed the positive pressure fan at this same door to remove smoke from the building and provide a clearer view for an interior attack.

Carbonear Volunteer Fire Department were called to the scene and they dispatched their Aerial Ladder Truck, Pumper Truck and the Crew Cab three officers and a crew of firefighters. Moores Ambulance Services were also on the scene as well as The RCMP and Newfoundland Power.

The initial attack team had difficulty in determining the seat of the fire. It was only through an aggressive interior that the location of the fire was found. Firefighters went through the restaurant main lobby, the dining room areas, kitchen area, the upstairs area and entered the Laundromat through the ground floor door. In the West end of the building past a small bathroom through a smaller dining room and found the door leading into the storage room and the fire. Class A foam was used extinguish the fire. Firefighters then vented the north gable end of the building to remove the hot gases and excessive smoke form the attic area. Plans were discussed to vent the roof but the roof itself was too slippery to allow safe footing to operate Venting tools.

Officer in charge Assistant Chief Brian Dwyer Said “Through the efforts of all on the scene and through an aggressive interior fire attack we were able to quickly extinguish a the blaze and allow minimal damage to the structure. Thank you to the Carbonear Department, once again we see that Mutual Aid continues to prove beneficial to both communities.

Photo: the burnt out storage room located at the back upstairs of Victoria’s Garden

BRIGADE RESPONDS TO THREE VEHICLE MVA

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade was dispatched to the scene of a three vehicle MVA on Saturday February 26^th. The Call for assistance was placed from the scene to the Brigade by Paramedics from Moores Ambulance Services. A report a three vehicle mishap on the Veterans Memorial Drive was given, a passenger in one of the three vehicles was pinned and the Jaws of Life were needed to free him.

Fighting hazardous road and driving conditions, upon arrival at the scene and firefighters found several ambulances and the RCMP on the scene. Weather was a factor in the mishap and a major factor in the extrication of the passenger. Snow squalls, along with very high, gusty winds and very slippery road conditions presented several problems for Ambulance Attendants, Firefighters and RCMP. Ambulances were used to provide wind break for the firefighters as they completed their extrication. Firefighters themselves then provided windbreaks as fellow firefighters and Paramedics packaged the victim and loaded him into an awaiting ambulance.

Brigade spokesman Robert Lynch reported “All extrications present their own, often unique, problems. While this extrication went according to the book, the severity of the weather conditions made for some tense moments as the accident victim and the rescue team battled high wind and snow to secure a safe outcome.”

BRIGADE RESPONDS TO SNOWMOBILE MISHAP

Robert Lynch, The Harbour Grace Volunteer Brigade.

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade were call to the scene of a Snowmobile accident on Friday March 04/05. The call for assistance was place to Harbour Grace dispatch at 9:41 p.m. by Bay Roberts Ground Search and Rescue. A report that three snowmobiles had gone through the ice and the Cold Water Rescue team services were required was given. The Brigade dispatched Unit #2, the chief’s own Tracker and Unit #6 with the Rescue Alive and with the Team’s Zodiac in tow. Three rescue swimmers wearing dry suits accompanied by two shore tenders and a crew of 5 members of the Cold Water Rescue Team left Harbour Grace for the 75 kilometers drive to the accident scene.

Upon arrival at the scene Rescuers were appraised of the situation and plans were put in place to complete a recovery. Cold Water Rescue Team members were lead to the last scene position of the casualty and from there began the recovery. With Cold Water Team Members entering the opening and using the Rescue Alive a successful recovery of the casualty was achieved. Chief Paul Snow said " the recovery went exactly as training procedures that have been practiced by The cold Water Rescue Team, I am very pleased with the the actions of the multi agency response to the tragedy and the professionalism shown by all agencies involved in the recovery.

THE HARBOUR GRACE VOLUNTEER BRIGADE

KICKS OF BINGO NIGHT

The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade began its weekly Bingo night Monday April 03/05. The weekly bingo is played at The Harbour Breeze and if the first night is any indication the Fire Brigade Bingo will be a great success. Anyone driving by wondered what all the commotion was about seeing a fire truck with lights on was certainly an attention getter. Inside the "Breeze" players were given free dabbers and card prices were cut to a minium. Even the Nevada Tickets sold had a Fire Brigade theme ranging from the three Dalmatians one dollar prize up to the three pumper truck top prize. Tables and chairs were set out for approximately 180 bingo players. Players were in the building before the volunteers were set up . Very quickly the Harbour Breeze management and the Brigade members realized that there would be more tables and chairs needed.

The building soon filled to capacity, bingo players were playing where ever they could find a place to sit. Player Clarence Hunt found a seat at the end of the bar. Hunt said "they may have been hoping for a crowd but they weren’t expecting this large of a turn out".

Such a large turn out indeed made for a busy night for the volunteer hosts, most of whom hadn’t played bingo, sold game cards or Nevada tickets before. Seeing this some of those in attendance quickly jumped into action giving advice, helping out and even selling game cards to help move the lineup faster.

Mrs. Mary Meadus summed up the feelings of many of those in attendance. She said "Its good to see a night of Bingo back in Harbour Grace". We’ll be back."!

Chief Paul Snow said " Obviously we were hoping for a good turn out, but to have this many people was totally unexpected, we had a few bumps and sometimes stumbled along but everything came together and we plan to keep it going."we really appreciate the support shown to the Brigade and the interest in our bingo."

Photo: Volunteer Joanne Barnes Taylor, Barbara Ann Verge, and Maureen Mahar getting set up to sell the first pack of Cards to bingo Player Brenda Crane .