Grand Island: Structure heavily damaged from garage fire

By Ron Stipp

Public Information Officer

Grand Island Fire Co.

At 12:11 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, the Grand Island Fire Co. dispatch received a call of a structure fire on Sandy Beach Road. Within minutes, firefighters were on scene, reporting a 2.5-story wood frame house with a fully involved garage fire beginning to extend into the house.

Fire Chief Mark Sadkowski called on Sheridan Park as a fast team, requested the City of Tonawanda to backfill fire headquarters during the incident, and established command once on scene. Engine No. 3 was the first on scene and began laying 1-3/4-inch hose to begin fire suppression. Engines Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and Rescue Nos. 1 and 2, joined on scene to combat the fire, alongside apparatus from the fast team. Utilities were phoned in for support, as well as a fire investigator.

As the fire intensified, the City of Tonawanda was requested to additionally join the fast team at the scene. Kenmore was requested to backfill fire headquarters.

Crews attacked the garage and surrounding structures, and operations reported the fire was under control at 12:54 p.m. Overhaul began shortly thereafter and was concluded by 2:30 p.m.

Around 600 feet of 1-3/4-inch hose was used, along with 50 feet of high-flow LDH hose, with an additional use of 36 feet of ground ladders for suppression.

Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the structure, $50,000 to contents, and another $50,000 to a vehicle that was in the garage. There was also minor exposure to the house next door, which sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage due to melted siding as an outcome to the hot flames from the garage.

The cause at this time remains under investigation.

All participating units returned in service at 2:40 p.m.

So far to date, Grand Island volunteers have responded to 570 calls, ranging from structure fires to EMS calls, to good intent, transportation requests and citizen assist calls.