Deployment Stories

Fire Interruption Technology Knocks Down Basement Fire and Saves House

WEST MILFORD, NEW JERSEY
April 2008

Account from Chief Andrew Schmidt

At approximately 3:30 pm on April 1, 2008 Jefferson Township Fire Company #1 was dispatched for mutual aid to West Milford New Jersey for a working structure fire. Upon arrival there were a few West Milford fire officers and in command was Chief Bob Castro.

The house was a one story ranch with heavy smoke coming out from the eaves of the building. The Chief on-scene informed me that the fire was in the basement and had not vented itself yet. I proceeded to the side of the structure and came across my first basement window which was very hot to the touch. The homeowner advised us that the best access to the fire area was through the small rear basement window.

At that point we broke the basement window and deployed [Ara's device] through the basement window. We stepped back from the window and a few seconds later you could hear the device begin to deploy. At this point the fire crews were stretching hose lines to the front door. I proceeded back to the side basement window within a few minutes and noticed a significant temperature change on that glass window. I notified the officer at the front door that the fire appeared to be knocked down and to watch their water use.

I then called for our Thermal Imaging Camera. I was informed that when the crew had advanced a hose line into the basement area, they found a lot of heat and smoke. The basement had been completely burned and only a small area of residual fire remained, which they extinguished with approximately 100-200 gallons of water.

As a result of the Fire Interruption Technology deployment, the fire was contained to the basement area.

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