Victoria Shipyard workers are being credited for preventing the spread of flames found licking at electrical panels at the Esquimalt Graving Dock Tuesday night.
CFB Esquimalt firefighters responded at 7:12 p.m. to several reports of a serious structure fire. When firefighters arrived on the south jetty, workers were using fire extinguishers to prevent the spread of fire that was burning around electrical junction boxes, breaker boxes and a transformer, mounted on an exterior wall of a wooden two-storey carpentry shop and classroom.
Using thermal imaging equipment, firefighters determined the blaze had spread into the structureB次元官网网址檚 walls. The flames were knocked down by 7:30 p.m.
Damage is estimated at $50,000. There were no injuries.
B次元官网网址淭he actions of the shipyard workers definitely contributed to preventing the fire from being more serious than it was,B次元官网网址� said CFB Esquimalt Deputy Fire Chief Rick LeQuesne.
LeQuesneB次元官网网址檚 team remained on scene for three hours, much of it spent clearing thick smoke from the building.
The incident marks the first time the base fire department called the Esquimalt Fire Department for assistance, under a new mutual-aid agreement that was signed March 19.
B次元官网网址淲e went down there and established a rapid-intervention team for them and provided some assistance outside,B次元官网网址� said Esquimalt assistant fire chief Gib Small. B次元官网网址淎ny time firefighters go into a structure, they have to set up a minimum of a two-person team, to be prepared in case any of the firefighters that have gone inside need rescue.B次元官网网址�
There are limitations to the level of support the Esquimalt crew can provide base firefighters, given the specialized nature of fighting fires onboard vessels.
B次元官网网址淚f they have a fire on a ship, we wonB次元官网网址檛 go down below decks,B次元官网网址� Small said. B次元官网网址淲e would stay on shore, help with the hose handling, operate pumps, things like that.B次元官网网址�
The mutual-aid agreement has already proven beneficial to both departments.
Prior to Tuesday nightB次元官网网址檚 fire, base firefighters provided support to Esquimalt crews Saturday afternoon after a patio chair caught fire on a balcony at an apartment building near Esquimalt and Admirals roads.
The fire departments have been training together in recent months, and familiarizing themselves with each otherB次元官网网址檚 vehicles and equipment.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beneficial to both departments because we can support each other,B次元官网网址� LeQuesne said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e right next door to Esquimalt, so if they require assistance at a fire, weB次元官网网址檙e very close to their area.B次元官网网址�
emccracken@vicnews.com
