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KENSINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MEMORANDUM

January 2012
TO: President and Board Members, Kensington Fire Protection District
FROM: Lance Maples, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Fire Chief's Report


Two Close Calls with Structure Fires

On November 18th the Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire in the 8500 block of Buckingham Drive. Four engines, a truck and two Battalion Chiefs responded. Engine 72 arrived on scene and noted light smoke coming from the garage at the back of a single story house. They were also notified by a caregiver that there was an elderly female in a bed still in a front bedroom. Upon further investigation, Engine 72 found the fire was in the clothes dryer. Engine 72 was able to isolate the power to the dryer and extinguish the fire inside with no extension to the house. They also located the person in bed and sheltered them in place as there was no smoke in that part of the house. Engine 72 cancelled the rest of the engines and assisted the caregiver in removing the dryer from the house and cleaning up the water on the floor. It appeared there was a malfunction with the dryer which was in use and the clothes inside caught fire. While the dryer was destroyed, damage to the house was very minimal.

On November 19th, the department was dispatched to the 900 block of Vista Heights Road for a person that indicated there was a bee's nest in their chimney and was causing the fireplace to smoke. Upon arrival, Engine 72 found that there was a chimney fire in a metal flue for a two-story, multi-unit condominium and requested a full structure fire assignment. Three additional engines, a truck and two Battalion Chiefs were dispatched. Engine 65 and Battalion 71 arrived on scene first and the balance of the assignment staged out. Engine 72 made access to the roof and found the rain cap and spark suppressor on the chimney was missing and that there was active burning inside. The crew on the roof applied a small amount of water inside the chimney and was able to extinguish the fire. Further investigation from inside found a large amount of burnt bee hive and honeycomb falling down inside the fireplace. Engines 65 and 72 remained to clean up the water and ashes and everyone else was cancelled. The residents indicated they had just moved in and wre told the fireplace was in service. They had lit a "pressed log" and noticed residue dripping down on the flames followed by fire building up in the chimney, bees dropping down and smoke coming in the house. The fire spread to the chimney due to the melting bees wax built-up inside the flue.

I always like to take the time to point out the close calls the fire department responds to as a way to raise the level of awareness when it comes to fire prevention. These are two perfect examples of why maintenance around the home is key to keeping your family safe.