Mutual Aid Fire in Pyrites
 
By Firefighter Mark Maroney
January 15, 2015
 

On Thursday January 15, Canton Pyrites and Pyrites Fire were dispatched at 0500 hours to a reported structure fire at 38 Churchill Street in Pyrites. At 0541 hours, County Car 21 (Bob Crowe) requested Potsdam Fire to standby at Canton Station. Engine 80 (R. Robar) was enroute at 0549 hours. While enroute to Canton, Engine 80 was requested by Car 21 to upgrade to the scene of the structure fire in Pyrites. Morley Fire was then requested to standby at Canton Station. At 0555 hours, Rescue 14 was requested to respond to the scene, Rescue 14 (McLennan) and a crew of 3 responded. Engine 80 arrived on scene at 0620 hours and shortly thereafter after Rescue 14 arrived. Potsdam firefighters were directed by Pyrites Command, (Canton 4-2) to move to the B side of the house and make an interior attack on the BC corner of the house, as part of the 2nd floor had collapsed on the AB side. Firefighters from Potsdam performed extinguishment and overhaul on the B side. Two Potsdam firefighters ascended Canton Tower 1 and began peeling back the metal roofing on the AD side. Many departments were requested to the scene because of limited man power and the temperatures outside (-13F). Pyrites, Canton, DeKalb, Hermon, Russell, Pierrepont, Rensselaer Falls, West Potsdam, Richville and Gouverneur fire departments all responded to the scene. Edward, Richville, and Morley fire departments had move up assignments to back fill several stations. The fire proved difficult to extinguish as it had made its way into the roof and involved several layers of roofing material under the metal roofing. Members of the SLC Fire Investigation Team, Car 30 (J. Lacks) and Car 32 (C. Sherwin) responded and the fire was ruled likely due to an overheated woodstove pipe. Potsdam Fire returned back in service at 1018 hours.

 
Units: Engine 80 (R. Robar), Rescue 14 (McLennan)
 
Mutual Aid: Potsdam Fire, Canton Fire, DeKalb Fire, Hermon Fire, Russell Fire, Pierrepont Fire, Rensselaer Falls Fire, Edwards Fire, West Potsdam Fire, Gouverneur Fire, Richville Fire, Morley Fire, Canton Rescue Given to: Pyrites Fire Morley Fire Given to: Canton Fire