PHOTOGRAPHER : E.JACOBY / OnTheScenePhotoz
Shortly after 6pm on Monday, June 15, 2009 , the Sparta Fire Department was dispatched to a working structure fire at the Sparta Volunteer First Aid Squad building located at 14 Sparta Ave in their township. Upon arrival, first responding units witnessed heavy black smoke and flames fully engulfing an ambulance inside the building and quickly spreading to the entire garage. Shortly thereafter a few small explosions were heard and flames rolled out of the building. Approximately twenty people, some attending a yoga class, were inside the Squad building on Monday evening when the fast-moving fire spread through the garage bays. A member of the Sparta First Aid Squad, who was inside when the fire broke out, raced over to an adjoining room where the yoga class was being held and immediately began evacuating everyone.
Sparta Engine 8 was first on the scene and attacked the blaze with their deck gun followed by hand lines. Chief Theike requested a FAST team from Andover Twp and ambulances were brought in from Ogdensburg and Hardyston to assist at the scene. During the same time frame, Sparta police dispatched the Ogdensburg Fire Dept as mutual aid to respond into Sparta for a house that had been struck by lightening with smoke reportedly coming from the electrical outlets. One pumper engine from Jefferson Fire Co # 2 was relocated into Sparta Township to stand by at the Sparta firehouse.
The fire at the Squad building was quickly brought under control by the Sparta Fire Department. The fire was contained to three garage bays, while the upper portion of the building sustained smoke and water damage. One ambulance was spared, ambulance 4192, which was out on an unrelated call in the township when the fire occurred at the building. Rigs 4191 and 4193 were destroyed in the blaze and the First Responder Vehicle, a Dodge Durango, that was parked just outside the garage doors, was damaged.
Sparta police said that their preliminary investigation showed that the fire started onboard one of the ambulances as an oxygen tank was being checked for pressure. There was lightning in the area around that time, prompting initial speculation that the stormy weather played a role, but authorities did not indicate any connection. Sparta Township expects to provide ambulance service at full capacity and has made mutual aid arrangements from neighboring towns including Lakeland, Ogdensburg and Hardyston, according to Mary Hookway, the squad's public information officer. She estimated that each of the destroyed ambulances, both insured and owned by the town, could cost up to $200,000 to replace .
The ambulance bays, built in 1993, were an addition to the 36-year-old building. The ambulance squad, founded in 1947, has approximately 60 volunteers and owns the building.
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-morristown-174-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1154724147
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmo8uLn3CS0
Below are photos of the aftermath, followed by portraits of Sparta's bravest! Photos can be purchased from this site for a nominal charge. (Click the "buy" tab) Captains & Chiefs "hosting" the event : email me for courtesy copies at no charge.
Shortly after 6pm on Monday, June 15, 2009 , the Sparta Fire Department was dispatched to a working structure fire at the Sparta Volunteer First Aid Squad building located at 14 Sparta Ave in their township. Upon arrival, first responding units witnessed heavy black smoke and flames fully engulfing an ambulance inside the building and quickly spreading to the entire garage. Shortly thereafter a few small explosions were heard and flames rolled out of the building. Approximately twenty people, some attending a yoga class, were inside the Squad building on Monday evening when the fast-moving fire spread through the garage bays. A member of the Sparta First Aid Squad, who was inside when the fire broke out, raced over to an adjoining room where the yoga class was being held and immediately began evacuating everyone.
Sparta Engine 8 was first on the scene and attacked the blaze with their deck gun followed by hand lines. Chief Theike requested a FAST team from Andover Twp and ambulances were brought in from Ogdensburg and Hardyston to assist at the scene. During the same time frame, Sparta police dispatched the Ogdensburg Fire Dept as mutual aid to respond into Sparta for a house that had been struck by lightening with smoke reportedly coming from the electrical outlets. One pumper engine from Jefferson Fire Co # 2 was relocated into Sparta Township to stand by at the Sparta firehouse.
The fire at the Squad building was quickly brought under control by the Sparta Fire Department. The fire was contained to three garage bays, while the upper portion of the building sustained smoke and water damage. One ambulance was spared, ambulance 4192, which was out on an unrelated call in the township when the fire occurred at the building. Rigs 4191 and 4193 were destroyed in the blaze and the First Responder Vehicle, a Dodge Durango, that was parked just outside the garage doors, was damaged.
Sparta police said that their preliminary investigation showed that the fire started onboard one of the ambulances as an oxygen tank was being checked for pressure. There was lightning in the area around that time, prompting initial speculation that the stormy weather played a role, but authorities did not indicate any connection. Sparta Township expects to provide ambulance service at full capacity and has made mutual aid arrangements from neighboring towns including Lakeland, Ogdensburg and Hardyston, according to Mary Hookway, the squad's public information officer. She estimated that each of the destroyed ambulances, both insured and owned by the town, could cost up to $200,000 to replace .
The ambulance bays, built in 1993, were an addition to the 36-year-old building. The ambulance squad, founded in 1947, has approximately 60 volunteers and owns the building.
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-morristown-174-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1154724147
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmo8uLn3CS0
Below are photos of the aftermath, followed by portraits of Sparta's bravest! Photos can be purchased from this site for a nominal charge. (Click the "buy" tab) Captains & Chiefs "hosting" the event : email me for courtesy copies at no charge.
