| At 18:34 hrs. Potsdam Police notified Potsdam Fire of a reported fire in apartment 406 Midtown apartments. As the call came into Potsdam fire at shift change Engine 49 was en route immediately with both Paid Drivers onboard. Engine 49 arrived on scene and found smoke pushing out an apartment window on the 4th floor. Fire driver Crowe positioned E-49 at the hydrant to set up for standpipe operations. Fire driver Pierce and firefighter Barton quickly entered the building and proceeded to the 4th floor to determine the extent and location of the fire. Assistant Chief McGregor arrived on scene and assumed command. He requested West Potsdam fire to the scene and placed Canton fire on standby. Firefighters Pierce and Barton found light smoke conditions in the hallway and smoke coming out around the door of apartment 406. As the whereabouts of any occupants was unknown firefighters quickly donned SCBA masks. After checking the door they entered the apartment and proceeded to conduct a primary search of the rooms. Additional crews arrived on the 4th floor and proceeded to start evacuating the residents and stretch out the attack line from the standpipe connection. The search in the apartment was negative and firefighter Pierce located the fire in the bathroom. The fire was quickly extinguished using the Wet Can the firefighters had bought with them. The apartment was then ventilated and a secondary search of the apartment was conducted, again coming up negative for any occupants. Fire damage was limited to the bathroom but the apartment sustained major smoke damage throughout. The occupant of the apartment had left after discovering the fire and was located in another part of the building. St Lawrence County Cause and Origin Team were requested to the scene to determine the cause. Potsdam Police were on scene and assisted with the evacuation of the building. All units were back in service at 20:46. |
