By Michael Contaxis
1st Asst. Chief WFD
On Fri., Mar. 5 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Warwick Fire Department (WFD) was dispatched to a structural fire at 60 Darin Rd. in the Kings Estates section of the Town of Warwick. The fire was reported to be in a conjoined four-unit townhouse with heavy damage to one unit and significant damage to two other units.
The Chester Fire District Chief Car 1 was the first to arrive on the scene, advising responding WFD units that there was heavy smoke showing. The first arriving fire engine was Chester Fire District Engine 2 from the Sugar Load Engine Company. The orders were given to stretch a line as Warwick’s first arriving units Warwick Truck 633 arrived on scene.
Warwick’s truck crews and arriving Engine crews assisted in stretching hand lines to fight the interior attack of the fire. A primary search of the home was completed when one cat was found. The fire was located to the rear of the first floor and into rooms on the second floor with partial collapse of the second floor.
The fire extended into the attic area, outside ventilation was completed by the WFD Goodwill Hook & Ladder members who vented the roof. A bulk of the fire was knocked down in 35 minutes.
A family dog was found during a secondary search located behind a couch. Lieutenant Kevin Colomba rescued the cat and firefighter Bill Roche rescued the dog from the home. Both pets were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by Warwick EMS and then turned over to Warwick Animal Control Officers for transport to a local veterinary hospital for further medical assistance. The fire incident was completed at 11:25 a.m. and all units returned to service. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Orange County Fire Investigators Office.
The WFD would first like to thank all who assisted the families who were affected from the fire. Thank you to the men and women of the Chester Fire Department including the Chief and Sugar Loaf Engine Company #2. Thank you to our volunteer firefighters and all of our mutual aid companies who responded to the scene and completed standby coverage. Thank you to the Chester and Warwick Police Departments, and to the Warwick, Greenwood Lake and Pine Island EMS as well as the Warwick Valley Humane Society and the American Red Cross of Greater NY.
Police Officer Winum
Also, on Friday afternoon members of the WFD attended an escort to pay respects to Police Officer Dominic “Nick” J. Winum 48, of Walden, NY, a Stanley Police Officer in Virginia who was shot and killed recently during a traffic stop. The WFD offers our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Winum.
Mutual Aid to Pine Island
In addition, the WFD responded to a house fire on Amity Rd. on Sat., Mar. 6 for mutual aid to the Pine Island Fire District with one Engine, Tanker and Ladder Truck to assist with putting out the fire at a residential home.
Firefighters battle a structural fire at 60 Darin Rd. in Warwick.
