Signal 99 | Piercefield Dr. | Solvay
At 0824 hours, Solvay, Taunton Ladder 5, and Fairmount Engine 6 (R.I.T.) were dispatched to Piercefield Dr. for a reported fire after lightning struck the house during an early morning thunderstorm. Solvay Engine 12 and Engine 22 quickly marked enroute. Engine 22 was first arriving and advised that there was smoke showing from the A side, attic of a large mansion. Engine 22 obtained their own water supply and then began to stretch the courtyard lay (400 ft of 2.5 inch to a water thief) from the rear of the Engine.
Engine 12 arrived shortly after and assisted Engine 22 with the tasking stretch to the structure. The crews then connected two 150 ft. 1.75 inch racks into the water thief and stretched to the third floor of the residence. Crews made their way to the attic where they encountered heavy fire, high heat, and zero visibility conditions. Engine 12 and Engine 22 quickly brought the fire under control within 20 minutes of arrival. Fairmount and Taunton worked on ventilating the 6500 sq. ft. structure. Additionally, Solvay Truck 11, Rescue 11, and Squad 12 responded and worked on salvage operations. Onondaga Hill was moved up to the scene as an additional R.I.T. East Syracuse FD was moved up to stand-by at Solvay Station 1 for a stand-by.
Crews on the scene worked diligently for several hours checking for extension, conducting overhaul, and trying to preserve as much property as possible. All units were back in service by 1300 hours. Solvay Units operating: Engine 12, Engine 22, Truck 11, Rescue 11, Squad 12, and Squad 21.