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Monday, October 25, 2010

Structure Fire On Holland Island

"FYI, West Side, Hebron, and Mardela were all dispatched to assist Dorchester Co with a structure fire located on Holland Island. West Side (12-16, Deputy Chief) advised Central that the only access to the island was by boat and that station 5 and 9 could return to service. West Side also said that if they were still
needed that the only thing they could do was shoot water from the boat and that they would NOT be doing any active structure fire fighting on the ground.

Central advised West Side that Dorch still wanted their assistance. Then Central came back on and said that a member of West Side called in and said that he was on the island yesterday and that it may be a controlled burn. West Side responded to that statement by saying they were NOT going to respond to the fire. After a few minutes a member of West Side asked for confirmation that they were not going in to help and 12-16 said that when Dorch. got there, IF they still needed help that they would go in, but as of now they were NOT going to make an attempt.

Wow, that seems like not only a big mess, but if they have to get a boat loaded, manned, and launched just to get out there, then they may want to at least be loaded and ready to go, if not, actually being on their way to save some time! I mean, I'm not a chief or anything, but if they are going to waste time and gas riding around for the fun of it any other time why not actually start heading out there for just in case??? What is your opinion?

***ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S ON AN ISLAND!!!!***

It's not like it's just down the road from the station. They have to take a boat
there!"

This message was sent in from a concerned citizen.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I heard that the last house on Holland's Island fell last week.

Anonymous said...

That's odd. I thought the last structure on Holland Island just collapsed into the water recently.

Gilligan's Island said...

If it is an abandonded building, don't waste any resources or time on it. The fire can only burn so far till it hits water. If it is an occupied structure, shame on the owner for not fitting it with a sprinkler system. For God's sake, you did built it ON AN ISLAND!!! What do you expect?!?!?! Maybe the owner should have bought one of the fire departments the right equipment to take care of situations ON AN ISLAND.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:44, that is correct. That is probably why the F.D. officer used his good judgement by not wasting any resources responding there.

I am sure concerned citizen is an expert in fire operations.

Anonymous said...

That house has been slowly sinking into the bay for yrs I also have heard that it fallen over what a shame but at least it won't become a navigational hazzard

Anonymous said...

Sounds like to me they had to form a meeting to make a simple decision. Oh well , nothing the fire dept. does surprises me. Blind leading the blind.

Anonymous said...

that is the last house on hollands island. it is in terruble shape for a while. it should be burned up so all that debri will not be floating in the bay and be a navigational hazard for the boats.
no need for the fire dept. it wont burn anything else. thanks sjd

Anonymous said...

that house may have historical value. we can not let it burn. the carbon emitted will weigh heavy for years to come. there should be a bridge built over to that island at tax payers expense.

Anonymous said...

They are coming Gillian!!!..They will save you little buddy!!!

Anonymous said...

Let's face it the Farmin are not the smartest tools in the shed!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good reason to favor a Fire Boat. What say you?

Anonymous said...

only a fool would go to hollands island to fight that fire and there are no fools in west side bryan p.red

Capt. Don said...

As is often the case, concerned citizen did not have all of the facts. Last week we had an "expert" about our fleet maintenance and now we have someone who knows where Holland Point is, or did I say Holland Island? Does concerned citizen know how deep the water is at Hollands Island?, or that the house fell down last week? So much mouth, so little knowledge!

Anonymous said...

we could send the fir boat from salisbery. Thats why we got her to put out firs on tha water. Right?

Anonymous said...

fir boat form salisbery, get that tere pump to move werter befer you send it to a fire.

Anonymous said...

I certainly agree that it was a mess and yet again "a concerned citizen" not reporting the whole picture. From my understanding when the call went out dispatch - not the fire dept- said it was closest to clara rd - response went to clara rd - later it was stated that the house was a controlled burn from the day before & that dorchestor had been dispatched 10 min prior - the house had fell in days before and was set on control - when control burn done fire dept has to be notified in advance along with obtaining permits - with all this knowledge wicomico should never have been dispatched - to those who say response should come from boat - if it was not a fire under control i would agree - but firefighting with a boat is just that lots of water - structual fire fighting can not be done by boat in that area due to the depth of the water and the equipment that is usually on a boat - to those who say salisbury should use their boat well lets see by the time they get it - get it equipped, manned and maintained - then out to the location - taxpayers have spent how much to respond to a bogus call - with fire dept not responding until actually needed made more sense - if the brush on the island would catch fire a boat still couldnt have done much.