Busy Day For Canton Fire
 
By 1st Assistant Fire Chief Robert Crowe
October 23, 2024
 

Members were kept busy all day, responding to six calls over the course of nine hours. At 0750 hours Canton Fire was requested to respond mutual aid to Potsdam Fire with the UTV and manpower to a forest fire at 306 South Canton Road. Seven members responded with Rescue 36 and UTV 4, operating at the scene for over three hours. Canton Fire personnel worked with members from Potsdam Fire, West Potsdam Fire, West Stockholm Fire, Hannawa Falls Fire, and Parishville Fire to contain the blaze. It appeared the five acre fire had been burning for some time. Numerous burning trees had to be felled and a significant amount of time was put in to ensure that the hot spots were extinguished to prevent the fire from rekindling in the dry, windy conditions. A drone from Parishville Fire was deployed with thermal imaging technology to look for hidden pockets of fire in the woods. All Canton units were back in service at 1122 hours.

While members were operating in Potsdam, Canton Fire was dispatched to an unknown type wire don in the roadway at the intersection of SH 310 and the Judson Street Road. Members responded, determined that it was a cable line, and removed it from the road.

At 1131 hours , the tones went off for Canton Fire, Canton Rescue, and County Car 4 for a reported house fire at 19 Pearl Street. Members were still at the station from the forest fire and responded immediately. Assistant Chief Crowe arrived to fined smoke coming from a roof vent at the rear of the building and requested a second alarm. Engine 6 laid in from a hydrant on State Street and a handline was stretched to the building. Engine 8 responded to the opposite end of Pearl Street and stood by for a second hydrant. Rescue 1 and Tower 1 were also responding. Members found leaves, acorns, and discarded smoking materials smoldering on a second floor porch that was causing the smoke in the residence and in the attic space. They were extinguished and the area checked to be sure the fire hadn't extended further.

At 1142 hours County Car 4 reported a 2 car motor vehicle accident on West Main Street that he had come upon while responding to the fire. Engine 8 and Rescue 1 were released from the fire scene to take in the MVA call. There were no injuries at the accident scene.

At 1147 hours Canton Fire was alerted to a fire alarm activation at the Canton Free Library. Engine 8 and Rescue 1 responded from the West Main Street MVA to the library. A faulty detector was determined to be the cause of the alarm.

Nineteen members responded to the group of three calls and there were no injuries. All units were back in service from all three calls at 1220 hours.

Members had a short break before being dispatched to another forest fire at 1417 hours. This time they were requested mutual aid to Richville Fire at 227 County Route 18. Five members responded with Rescue 36 and UTV 4. Much like the morning forest fire, they had to contend with a fire spreading in the undergrowth as well as standing trees that were burning. Working with Richville Fire, DeKalb Junction Fire, and Hermon Fire, personnel were able to contain and extinguish the fire in a little under three hours. All Canton Units were back in service from this call at 1647.