Fighting fire in the bitter cold is an unforgiving experience, but thanks to Ulster Hose Company No. 5, two fires were extinguished and one elderly resident was saved from the balcony of a burning building in a dramatic ladder rescue.
Apartment rescue
Ulster Hose responded to a kitchen fire at the Royal Garden Apartments in the Town of Ulster at about 1:17 a.m early Wednesday morning. While crews were en route, dispatch updated that the caller reported smoke in the apartment. On arrival, firefighters reported heavy smoke showing from two sides of the building, fire visible from a basement apartment, and reports that occupants were trapped. Command requested a working-fire upgrade to bring additional manpower and resources.
Engine 4 began a primary search and stretched a handline for fire suppression. Firefighter N. Gray reported an elderly woman on a balcony, and Capt. Boyle laddered the balcony to reach her, with Chief Mathew Molinaro and Lt. Fitzgerald assisting in getting her safely to the ground. A second alarm was transmitted, and additional crews laddered the building, ventilated, and searched the remaining apartments, which were reported clear. Ulster Hose said the fire was brought under control after primary and secondary searches, with mutual aid agencies assisting alongside EMS, police, fire investigators and a town building inspector.
According to reports, the fire displaced 21 residents, and Red Cross offered aid to them after the disaster.
Kitchen fire engages entire structure
In a separate incident on Tuesday evening, Ulster Hose sent crews to West Hurley Tuesday evening to help fight what was first reported as a kitchen fire and then upgraded to a working structure fire. The call came in at about 5:20 p.m., and Ulster Hose was initially assigned to stand by at headquarters with Engine 4 before being requested to respond to the scene.
After Engine 4 arrived, Ulster Hose firefighters assisted West Hurley crews with fire suppression and primary searches, according to the department. While operations were underway, West Hurley also requested Ulster Hose’s Ladder 2 to respond as a FAST team, a dedicated standby crew used to assist firefighters in distress during dangerous interior operations.
Ulster Hose said its members operated for about two hours before returning to service.
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