Rockland County NY multiple structure and brush fires simultaneously - Major Incident 4/13/23

[Capttomo]

Train supposed hit a tree laying across the track in Congers. tree got stuck in train and was carried all the way to Stony Point taking out at least4 structures, numerous vehicles and started brush fires everywhere. Multiple departments mutual aid to a structure fire in Congers. Most of Rockland County departments involved in one way or another. Quite a few Rockland units were on Mutual Aid to Orange County (Blooming Grove area) since this morning when all hell broke loose back in Rockland County. Westchester and Bergen County units are tied up with major brush fires of their own. The perfect storm. They finally got the train to stop in Stony point. Damage done. Not sure if any chemicals were released or tanks ruptured on train yet. Major crisis. That and in conjunction with Orange County having major Brush 🔥 fire lasting for a few days. They can’t rely on them for help or manpower.

 

[baileyjeff]

Anyone have a run down?

 

[bxengine]

Anyone have a run down?

Couple different command posts set up and treated as different incidents on both sides of the mountain, one in haverstraw and one in congers. Not sure about the haverstraw one but congers had blauvelt central nyack nanuet new city nyack orangeburg rockland lake sparkill tallman tappan valley cottage west nyack and some bergen and westchester companies. This was simultaneous to the operation about a mile away where the rest of the county and some orange and westchester units operated.

Basically half the companies chose a side street off the main road and operated behind the houses on that block, other half operated on the other side of the fields closer to the csx tracks and a huge townhouse complex.

 

[Capttomo]

Departments 3 and 4 were still running small brush fires early this morning

 

[bxengine]

Departments 3 and 4 were still running small brush fires early this morning

Its old celery fields and cattails, shit burns like gasoline. Years and years of undergrowth doesnt help. Couple of the oldtimers said this hasnt happened on this scale since the late 60s or early 70s, so all the overgrown undergrowth is just impossible to extinguish, even in the cattails its deep seated.

 

[Captain784]

On perhaps a County or Multable County wide basis a "High Rail" capable Pumper should be considered. I believe that the M.T.A. already has a small one. ALSO, truly Large Capacity pumping systems need to be established in many areas in New York State. New pumper are, available from some manufactures, with capacities of I believe up 5,000 GPM. New Jersey has the Neptune System that even with its problems exists. As a FDNY firemen I worked in the Super Pumper System from time to time, I know what truly large, capacity pumping systems can do to supply large amounts of water and also feed very large capacity deck gun monitor devices. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

 

[Capttomo]

On perhaps a County or Multable County wide basis a "High Rail" capable Pumper should be considered. I believe that the M.T.A. already has a small one. ALSO, truly Large Capacity pumping systems need to be established in many areas in New York State. New pumper are, available from some manufactures, with capacities of I believe up 5,000 GPM. New Jersey has the Neptune System that even with its problems exists. As a FDNY firemen I worked in the Super Pumper System from time to time, I know what truly large, capacity pumping systems can do to supply large amounts of water and also feed very large capacity deck gun monitor devices. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

An excellent suggestion on a rail capable pumper/tanker. As far a large volume pumping - the last few manor fires in Rockland have demonstrated that the municipal water supply systems in areas such as Spring Valley and Pearl River is very old with small diameter mains that cannot supply the flows required for many occupancies. This a High Vol system would help in areas close to static water sources such as lakes and rivers. Water mains do break and municipal water supply pumping stations do fail from time to time. Each region of each state should have such capabilities