Arriving on the scene at about 8:08 p.m., the Deputy Chief was told that workers
were still trapped in the Monomac Building. Engine 4 and Rescue 1 were assigned to initiate
search and rescue and, as they followed a guard to the alley between the Monomac
and Process Buildings (Figure 5), they encountered several burned workers who were
being assisted toward the guard station. Arriving at the scene, Ambulance 2 set up a
multi-casualty incident (MCI) command post at the guard station and began triage.
The plywood coverings on the first and second floor windows of the Monomac
Building had been blown off and the alley was littered with debris from the explosion.
The interior was filled with smoke and the force of the wind was blowing the smoke out
the first floor windows. Heavy smoke was also blowing over the top of the building,
however no fire was observed or reported at this point. A fire command post was established
by C-2 at the southeast corner of the Monomac Building.
Employees directed the firefighters to a door about 100 feet from the north end
of the building, where two crews donned SCBA and made entry to conduct search and
rescue operations. Inside they found that the electricity had been knocked out by the
explosion and water from activated sprinkler heads and broken pipes was cascading
down on them. Engine 4 reported blowing smoke inside and some heat on the second
floor, but did not see any fire inside the building.
Engine 3 arrived at about 8:12 p.m. and was assigned to conduct search and rescue
operations in the center section of the building. Engine 5 was assigned to search the
south end of the building. The driver of Engine 5, who was informed that an injured
man needed help inside, left his apparatus, entered the building, and was able to remove
2 injured workers with the help of other employees.
Several employees were assisted out of the building and the interior search was
completed before any of the firefighters had consumed a full tank of air. The Deputy
Chief was informed that supervisors had accounted for all employees of the Mill.
Next » Fire Suppression
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