Cape firefighters attack vehicle fire, save business
Firefighters responding to a vehicle fire kept the blaze from spreading to a Cape Coral business Tuesday night.
Firefighters from Engine 2 and Rescue 2 responded to a vehicle fire at Quality Plumbing, 920 S.E. 13th Place, at 6:47 p.m. Updated dispatch information indicated a large vehicle fire with other vehicles and a building in danger.
As a result, Battalion Chief Steve Olson had Dispatch add additional units on the alarm. Engine 2 arrived to find a panel truck owned by Quality Plumbing on fire with flames coming from the engine compartment and cab.
Firefighters made “an aggressive attack on the fire,” quickly extinguishing the flames and keeping the fire from spreading into the rear of the vehicle and to the business.
“We found a lot of solvents and combustibles in the back,” said Engine 2 Lieutenant John Lynch in a prepared statement. “We wanted to get in and get the fire knocked out quickly before it had a chance to spread.”
Firefighters extinguished the fire within minutes after arrival and the fire was investigated. Fire Inspector John Maher ruled the fire as accidental, reporting it started in the engine compartment. There were no injuries.
Quick actions and aggressive fire attacks are common practice in these types of fires, officials said.
Firefighters have special concerns with fires in industrial areas. Both the firefighters in the Operations Division as well as fire inspectors in the Life Safety Division work together to stay on top of hazards and fire threats in commercial occupancies and plan their fire attacks accordingly to the increased risk to firefighter safety.
“This fire had a lot of potential,” said Olson. “The fire load in the vehicle was heavy and Engine 2’s crew did a good job.”
Source: Cape Coral Fire Department