Below are some of the incidents the Jakeland FD operated at in 2019.
12/31 CONCORD AVE 2ND ALARM
At 10:56 AM, firefighters in the Jakeland Heights section of the city were dispatched to a working house fire on Concord Ave. A 2nd Alarm would be needed to the scene to assist. All units that operated on scene were Engines 7, 12, 9, 13, 15, 6, Tower Ladders 4, 2, 1, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalions 2, 1 and Deputy 4.
11/16 LYDIA AVE GENERAL ALARM
Jakelands Bravest operated at a "General Alarm" structure fire on Lydia Ave. Engine 5 and Ladder 3 arrived on scene first and were advised that there were still people trapped on the third floor. Deputy Chief McNamara then requested a second alarm to the scene to assist. While searching the third floor of the three story brick apartment building, three members of Ladder 3 became trapped. Firefighters were able to rescue their comrades and were then forced to evacuate the building as flames raged on all three floors and through the roof. Seven firefighters suffered non life threatening injuries at this incident. The fire would grow to a "General Alarm" assignment bringing in every unit from the Jakeland FD. Mutual aid from Lego Twp, Lego Regional Fire Authority, Liberty County, Rochelle Heights, Riverwoods, Portage, Buena Vista, Westbrick and St Lego would be called in to stand by at empty firehouses across the city.
10/30 BERRY ST 2ND ALARM
Firefighters in Jakeland were kept busy again all across the city during "Mischief Night". The biggest incident to occur was on Berry St. Firefighters were dispatched to a vacant home on fire. When Tower Ladder 2 arrived on scene, they found heavy fire venting from the home already. A second alarm would be requested to assist as flames threatened nearby structures. Thankfully firefighters were able to contain the fire to the original fire building with no extension. All Jakeland units that operated at the scene were Engines 6, 9, 12, 7, 13, 15, Tower Ladders 2, 4, 1, Squad 3, Battalion 2 and Deputy 1. Lego Regional Fire Authority Rescue 3 was requested to the scene due to Jakeland Rescue 1 being tied up at another incident at the time.
8/4 MIDTOWN AVE ALL HANDS
Firefighters were dispatched to a working fire on Midtown Ave at 3:06 PM. When Engine 6 and Tower Ladder 2 arrived on scene, they found heavy fire in a business on the first floor with heavy smoke showing from the apartments on the second floor. Firefighters were able to quickly stretch hoses and extinguish the fire preventing extension up to the apartments. No one was injured at this incident. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 6, 9, 12, 13, Tower Ladders 2, 4, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalion 2 and Deputy 3.
7/30 FIRST AVE 3RD ALARM
Jakelands Bravest operated at a 3rd Alarm structure fire at 215 First Ave in Downtown Jakeland. When firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered heavy fire on the second floor and heavy smoke on the third floor. As they began stretching hoses to attack the blaze, they were advised by residents of the apartment building that there was possibly a trapped occupant on the second floor. Firefighters Matthew Long and Thomas Graves from Ladder 3 began a primary search on the second floor for the victim. When Ladder 7 arrived, FF Demetrius Wilson placed Ladder 7's aerial up to the second floor windows. Lt Jason Bell and FF Steve Perry of Ladder 7 then assisted Ladder 3 on the second floor with the primary search. As conditions inside were quickly deteriorating, these 4 brave firemen were able to locate the victim, who was unconscious, and bring her out to safety. Tri County EMS then transported the victim to Jakeland University Medical Center. Thanks to these brave firemen, the victim will survive. It took firefighters a little over an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 5, 1, 4, 2, 15, 6, 12, 9, Ladder 3, Tower Ladder 1, Ladder 7, Tower Ladder 2, Squad 10, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 2 and Deputy 2. Mutual aid from Lego Twp, Brick Borough, Liberty County, Lego Regional Fire Authority, Rochelle Heights, Portage and Westbrick stood by at empty firehouses across the city.
6/27 JERSEY ST 3RD ALARM
At 10:38 PM, firefighters were dispatched to a report of an explosion on Jersey St. When Engine 12 arrived on scene, they reported that a home had exploded and there was heavy fire. Deputy Chief Gallagher requested that a 3rd Alarm be sent to the scene to assist. Firefighters were unable to extinguish the fire until Public Service responded to shut off gas to the area. Once the utilities were cut, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. Two neighboring structures suffered exterior damage but thankfully were saved. Two residents who were home at the time were killed. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 12, 6, 9, 7, 13, 1, 15, 4, Tower Ladder 2, Tower Ladder 4, Tower Ladder 1, Ladder 3, Squad 3, Squad 10, Rescue 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 1 and Deputy 1. Crews from Lego Twp, St Lego, Portage, Riverwoods, Westbrick, Liberty County and Rochelle Heights stood by at empty firehouses across the city.
5/3 ORCHARD AVE 2ND ALARM
Firefighters operated again at the same residence on Orchard Ave that had a previous fire this year. A 2nd Alarm assignment would be needed to the scene as all firefighters fought the flames from defensive positions. Luckily no other homes in the area were damaged. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 7, 9, 12, 6, 13, 4, Tower Ladders 4, 2, 1, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalions 2, 1 and Deputy 1. There were no injuries at this incident.
4/13 ORCHARD AVE 3RD ALARM
Firefighters at 1:45 AM were dispatched to a residence on Orchard Ave for a working fire. Engine 7 and Tower Ladder 4 arrived on scene first and discovered heavy fire on the first floor of the home with heavy smoke pushing from the second floor. Multiple hoses were stretched and an interior attack was made. A 2nd Alarm would be needed to the scene due to a heavy amount of fire that already extended up to the second floor and in the attic. Crews continued to operate in the home with multiple hoses, until a partial collapse occurred. This collapse also caused the front porch to partially collapse and injure 2 firefighters. Crews would be pulled out of the building and a 3rd Alarm would be requested. Multiple master streams and hoses would be deployed defensively to battle the blaze and prevent a spread to surrounding structures. Thankfully the fire was able to be held to the original home with only some heat damage to neighboring homes. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 7, 9, 12, 6, 13, 4, 1, 15 Tower Ladders 4, 2, 1, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalions 2, 1 and Deputy 3.
2/24 FURNITURE WORLD GENERAL ALARM
At 2:12 PM, firefighters in South Jakeland were dispatched to the “Furniture World Superstore” for an activated fire alarm. A motorist would also call 9-1-1 and report that the building was on fire. When Engine 2 and Ladder 7 arrived on scene first, they found heavy smoke pushing from the building. A 2nd Alarm was quickly requested, and an interior attack was attempted. As firefighters attempted to enter the building with hoses however, conditions quickly deteriorated. All firefighters were then ordered out of the building and a defensive attack was conducted using multiple hoses and master streams. The fire would grow to a General Alarm assignment bringing in every unit from the Jakeland FD to the scene. Firefighters from Liberty County and Rochelle Heights were also brought to the scene to assist. Crews from Westbrick, Lego Twp, Riverwoods, Lego Regional Fire Auth, Jackson, Brick Borough, Portage, St Lego, North Lereado County and Buena Vista were also brought in to stand by at empty firehouses across the city. Thankfully the store was closed at the time and there were no injuries at this incident.
1/13 MIDTOWN PL 3RD ALARM
At 11:15 AM, firefighters were dispatched to a working house fire on Midtown Pl. Deputy Chief Freeman was first to arrive on scene and immediately requested a 2nd Alarm to the scene. Engine 6 was the first engine to arrive and quickly deployed a hose to the front door. Heavy fire was already throughout the home and firefighters had to battle the blaze from the exterior to knock the flames back. As more hoses were able to be deployed, firefighters aggressively attacked the fire and were able to enter the home for an interior attack. The aggressive attack however took a toll on firefighters and more crews were needed to the scene to help. This incident would be held to a 3rd Alarm assignment with mutual aid from Liberty County to the scene with a rehab and air unit. One firefighter was injured after slipping on a patch of ice. All units that operated at the scene were Engines 6, 12, 9, 13, 7, 1, 15, 4, Tower Ladders 2, 4, 1, Ladder 3, Squad 3, Rescue 1, Battalions 2, 1 and Deputy 4.