On February 2, 2017 at approximately 1354 hrs, the tones dropped and Potsdam Fire was dispatched to 20 Madrid Ave for a report of a vehicle fire. Engine 49 responded immediately being chauffeured by Fire Driver Robar and staffed by First Assistant Chief Danielle Rose.

Upon arrival, Engine 49 reported a fully involved vehicle fire. Firefighter Jim Corbett had arrived on scene prior to Engine 49’s arrival and was waiting to stretch the trash line to the fire while Chief Rose finished donning her SCBA to making the fire attack. Once more personnel arrived on scene, Chief Rose handed the nozzle over to Firefighters Brad Andrus, Jacob Giles, and Justin McGregor to finish overhaul while she assumed Incident Command.

It was determined that the 2002 F-350 was owned by LaValle Transportation. The truck was being used to jumpstart another larger vehicle that was parked in the yard when the jumper cables that were being used shorted out and caused a minor fire. LaValle workers believed that they had extinguished the small fire that had started in the engine bay, near the front driver side tire, with three small fire extinguishers and did not notify the fire department at this time. A few minutes later one of the LaValle employees happened to look out one of the shop windows and noticed the truck engine compartment and cab was fully involved with fire and the fire department was notified.

With quick thinking from the workers at LaValle Transportation, the vehicle was dragged away from the other vehicles in the lot before the fire department arrived.

No injuries were reported and all equipment was back in service at 1503hrs.

Chief Rose would like to extend appreciation to the crew at LaValle for always going above and beyond helping the Fire Department out in any way they can and to the members who responded back to the fire station after the call to get the Engine back in service and get the gear cleaned up and put away. Don’t think your hard work goes unnoticed!!