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The scene today (Friday) on North Van Buren Street in Wilmington, Delaware when Squad 1 went searching for a water supply. The pictures are by John Jankowski. Also thanks to Jack Wilson.

UPDATE

A day after the fire, Wilmington Fire Department Chief Anthony Goode not only defends the hydrant hook up through the car but explains that he was the one who broke out the windows of the vehicle. Chief Goode explains on his website WilmFireChief.com:

Based on the reports I responded to the scene and arrived at the same time as the first arriving Battalion Chief and the first arriving Engine Company.

On 6/6/14 the WFD was dispatched to a row home fire at 808 N. Vanburen Street. Fire Dispatchers indicated that they were receiving several calls and Fire Officers working in other nearby structures provided information that they could see a column of smoke coming from that area.

Bystanders immediately began telling firefighters that the occupants were unaccounted for and that there was a family pet dog in the home. The Battalion Chief quickly sized up the scene and it was clear by the conditions that we had a working fire!

The first Engine on scene (Squad 1) positioned their apparatus and the hydrant person finds that the hydrant is blocked by a vehicle which already had a parking ticket on it! Two off duty WFD Firefighters who were working as EMT’s at their part-time job attempt to assist the hydrant person make the connection to the hydrant but the vehicle is causing serious problems and establishing a water supply is absolutely essential. Seeing the water source problem escalate a decision is made to breach the vehicle and hook up to the hydrant.

Now while there are some who may believe that this decision was inappropriate or maybe the firefighters should have taken more time going house to house searching for the vehicle owner, just take a moment to think if it had been your home on fire, your family unaccounted for, your family member who is the firefighter who is going into this burning structure! The WFD doesn’t condone acts of vandalism or unnecessary property damage during any emergency scene. At least no more than we condone illegally parking in front of the fire hydrants that we need in order to do our job of saving life and property!

So while this may be unfortunate, it was absolutely necessary!

Yes the picture or act itself is not new to many but go ask around, honest firefighters will tell you that while plenty cars block hydrants on a daily basis it’s not often that this occurs! As a matter of fact, most firefighters have never seen or been involved with something like this other then watching “Axe” in “Backdraft”. The opportunity and necessary circumstances just don’t present themselves often. I had never seen it done!

As to whether I as the Chief of Fire for the Wilmington Fire Department condone the actions of the firefighter who made the decision to take this action and establish the much needed water supply. The answer is yes! I have too because it was the Chief of the WFD who put a axe through the driver and passenger windows and passed the 5 inch supply line through the vehicle!

Just to follow up, the car was a rental and the driver claimed that there was no where else to park when they got home the night before. The driver was sleep inside her home directly across the street from the car and did not hear any of the activity until about an hour into the fire. The drivers question at the time was if the WFD was going to need to keep the hose in the car much longer because she had to get to work. I don’t think she made it in!

Don’t park in front of Fire Hydrants!