EARLY MORNING ELYRIA HOUSE FIRE
Elyria – Residents of a California Ave home woke up just after 3am to find the back of their home on fire.
Chief Joseph Pronesti of the Elyria Fire Department said they received the first call from the homeowner saying that their back deck was on fire. “The first call came at 3:15am and then she called back while we were responding saying that the fire made it into the home. Our guys could see the glow from the fire and the smoke column from the Abbewood area.”
Pronesti said that when Firefighters arrived on scene at 3:23am they found the entire back of the home involved in fire. “The fire had gotten into the second floor and into the attic so we had to go defensive and knock it down.”
The fire and heat were so intense at the height of the blaze that it melted the neighbors siding and shutters, but there was no smoke or fire damage to the neighbors home.
The homeowners were able to escape the home without any injuries. The American Red Cross will be providing them shelter and necessities throughout the next couple of days.
Lorain and Avon Fire Departments filled in the Elyria station during the blaze.
Pronesti said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
PHOTO GALLERY
posted by TMC NEWS at 7:04 AM
24 Comments:
why did it take them 8 minutes to arrive?
Because it is at the South Eastern most point in the City. Which is where a fire station is needed, and the one currently covering though out of place, is closed.
Good Question
Your not serious, are you? California Ave is deep in District 2...that station has been closed for a year now....takes some extra time for the other stations to arrive there. Thats why each section of town has its own station.
Think about it. It took 8 minutes from the time the dispatch office at the fire station got the call until they got the first truck on scene. In that time, they notified all stations of the call, they got out of bed, got dressed, got into their gear, got on the truck, drove just over three miles away and were ready to work... In just 8 minutes.
The fact that station 2 is closed is a moot point. station 1 on Cedar St and station 2 are a half mile apart. do you think an additional half mile makes that much of a difference? Besides, If I understand correctly, station 2 is only closed when staffing levels fall to minimum staffing. It's not closed all of the time.
The Elyria Fire Department should be praised for a quick response time. Those guys do an exceptional job, especially with the problems this administration is handing them. Good job Chief Pronesti and all of EFD !!!
If EFD were dipatched directly by 911 (as many area Dept's are) as opposed to having a firefighter sit at a dispatch desk that would cut their response time.
oH The Efd DrAma gEt tHe aDuTi in HeRe and the maYor Ount of OfIfice
That idea was going to be implemented in a plan between the Mayor and the firefighters, however because the Mayor wanted political protection he held these improvements that guranteed the safety of Elyrians hostage.
Come to the Council mtg Tuesday to hear more or ask an Elyria fireman.
Maybe you will find out why the Chief said enough.
Taking the firefighter off dispatcher duty and on an engine may help put E-2 back in service a few extra days a month, too...
Anonymous 4, How do you figure if 911 dispatch it it would have been quicker? the 911 operator notifies the fire department with in a few seconds of getting the call. It wouldn't have made a difference at all. Haas
I can't answer the dispatching duties of the Elyria Fire Dept. Last time I knew it was going to the 911 Center next year. But what I can address is the time frame of all these "how longs". Fire DOUBLES in size every 30 SECONDS, providing it has ample fuel to do so. An unmanned Fire Station sitting at E.Broad and Kipling, does not do me,(us) at EFD a bit of good. The master plan years ago and too this day. Lays out a 5 Station Fire Dept. within the city of Elyria. Central Station at E.Broad at Kipling; Station 3 at Lorain Blvd. and Bell Av; Station 4 at N. Abbe Rd. and Howard St; a new Station 2 out in the southeastern part, and station 5 towards Murray Ridge Rd. to cover the western half of town. "30 seconds" may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Station 1 ~ 4 has tripled their work loads do to the closure of Station 2 by having to cover their own districts plus Station 2s. Station 3 in the mean time, general starts picking up Station 1s ~ 4s calls because they are gone. Travels time are increased, and thats not including (snow covered roads, or a blinding rain storm in the middle of the night). The probabilities of being in an accident have risen in getting to the calls. Members are fatigued covering the shortage. And God forbid no one has been killed in doing so. A few Firefighters here and there may NOT seem like a big deal! It is a big deal. Fire has no discretion an what it wants to destroy, or how many lives it can take. The fire service loses an average 100 Firefighters per year. Maybe one here, or one there. And sometime it takes out Firefighters in numbers, like in the teens of being killed or injuried at one incident. We all know the manpower numbers here in Elyria by now. I work with a minimum of 14 Firefighters daily. And on good days when everyone is healthy, and some of the men are'nt doing military obligations. Our numbers just got better, we may be at 17 on shift with four stations open. Does 30 seconds matter? Yes it DOES. It matters to me, my brothers in arms, my Family and YOU the citizens we are sworn to protect, from the city limits to to state line. I want to be home in the morning after my shift. I have been lucky the last 29 years on the job. And I want us all to win the on the "Grab the brass ring Carousel ride."
I will use one example of fire protection.
Wheeling, W. Virginia
Population 30,00
Fire Stations 7 (down from 9)
Firefighters on Dept. 90
Elyria, Ohio
Population 58,000
Fire Stations 3 (down from 4)
Firefighters on Dept. 60
Ffr. J. Castle
EFD Engine Co. 3
Lorain Blvd. @ Bell (holding our own w/pride)
How are they fatigued from the additional work load? Thats too funny.
Also if you get everyone showing up for their "job" vs taking "sick" time to do their personal part time contruction, concrete and landscaping jobs, you would have plenty of guys on duty and would probably be less fatigued.
I think some of you need to get a real job. I praise EFD everyday for what they do with what they have. Maybe you should take the next fire test? And find out what the fire service is all about. Most of there fire trucks are falling apart..( I know because repair most of the eletronics problems) So 8 mins is not that bad. You should live out here in the sticks where it could take 10 mins to get anyone to the station and out the door. Then it could be another 10 miles or more to the fire. Be lucky that EFD is full time and there to serve YOU. (the citizens of Elyria.) They do a great job! Your (volunteer) brother in arms...
Nick, Firefighter/EMT-B
"How are they fatigued from the additional work load? Thats too funny.
Also if you get everyone showing up for their "job" vs taking "sick" time to do their personal part time contruction, concrete and landscaping jobs, you would have plenty of guys on duty and would probably be less fatigued."
7:13 PM
Do you have proof of such practices? If so please call me tomorrow with names and times.
If not I politely ask that you stop with such accusations.
Thank You
Interim Chief Pronesti
I'm not a fire fighter, but a cop and it is damn good to hear a Chief, any Chief stick up for his people. If someone can prove allegations I am all for an investigation, but slanderous unproven accusations get people sued......Way to go Chief.....
Way to Go, EFD!! Thank you for doing your job, and doing it well!
Unless you have done the job, you should not make any comments about work load, and fatigue. How many calls do you run a day? What do you do for a living besides make disrespectful comments about hard working fireman? The Elyria Fire Dept. is doing a great job working thru this rough time in their city! All acting officers should pat themselves on the back for keeping the Dept. moving forward!
Local Firefighter/Engineer
Once again as a Fire Chiefs Wife, I feel the need to comment! When people get home from there regular jobs I do believe there are other things to do, such as landscaping, family, and the like. I myself work and come home to do more jobs at home! And as far as someone else doing extra work what they do on there own time is there business! As for us, the chief and I right now we are siding our home and replacing doors and window! If you would like to free up sometime for him please feel free to offer your assistance!!!!
Oh Boy! Isnt this the new talk of the times... lol Thumbs up to the chiefs wife! YAY KATHY don't back down... as for my thoughts on this entire house fire and what ya'll think. Well i just want to add that the general public it would take a heck of alot longer then 8 mins to get woke up out of bed dressed and moving so get off the firefighters. they do a job and they do a good one at that and carry their own or they wouldnt be saving lives from fires. Now thank goodness all were ok from this one and response time was ethically correct,If you beg to differ how bout trying it yourself and see how long it takes you to pull it off, I bet you fail! lol move on NEXT STORY! BRAVO EFD CREWS!!!
I seriously want people who like to think that they can wake up get dress, out the door and in the mindframe to fight fires/save lives in less then 8 minutes to try it out one day/night... Cause im sure you couldn't do it any better only worse... It takes one hell of a person to be able to do that and respond knowing that other peoples lives depend on you,... way to go EFD ...
An 8 minute response is slightly less than desirable but, giving consideration to: 1. the time of day, 2. the day of week, 3. the holiday and manpower issues. I'd have to say JOB WELL DONE to the elyria firefighters who came to my sisters rescue. As for their neighbors who got them up and out of the front bedroom, you were the true HEROES that night THANK GOD I still have them. The HOME involved was the only loss. How many of you were out visiting friends and family this holiday weekend and where did you go when you were all funned out - HOME. My tears flow for her and her loss it was a beautiful HOME full of heirlooms-childrens treasures-comfort-and memories. People will say It's just things but we all REALLY know better. Some things just can't be replaced. YES, MY TEARS FLOW FOR THEM. I LOVE THEM
Thank you for to the EFD for making do with what they have. This city hasn't been easy on you when you're the ones out there putting your life on line. Thank you to the EFD's families for being unselfish enough to allow them to do their jobs. Thank you to the posters who offer up support to the EFD and their families.
PHOTO #023 SHOW THE IMAGE OF A MANS FACE IN THE UPPER LEFT FLAMES. HEAD,EYES,NOSE,MOUTH,CHIN,AND SHOLDERS LOOKING DOWN ON THE HOUSE.
Broken alarms that have to "warm up" and a 1 min 42 second turnout time cretainly did nothing to help. Standard time on turnout is..... a lot less then 1 min 42 seconds. Besides anyone who knows anything about fires knows that THIS fire was MUCH more involved before the call ever was made.
Unfortunately a bad decision led to a bad result.
In this example, the truck was dispatched from Station 4 (I believe).
Was that the closest station?
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