Derby-Orange Firefighters Work Together

The sound of a fire tone will always get a firefighter's adrenaline going.

At 7:47 a.m. Tuesday, the Orange dispatcher called out for all Orange Volunteer Firefighters to respond to a house fire on Derby-Milford Road.

Within seconds Chief Charlie Gagel was in his truck and signed in.

Then the dispatcher updated the information, stating that the Derby Fire Dept, which is located about a half mile away, already was on scene and that it was a chimney fire.

Gagel continued traveling to the scene, running through his head what equipment Orange would have to provide. In the meantime fire crews are gearing up and boarding the trucks at the stations.

"Rescue One, Engine 35 enroute."

Gagel arrived and called for the trucks to come in with emergency response, and he listed the equipment needed, including the thermal imaging camera to check for fire inside the walls.

Orange assembled a Rapid Intervention Team, a group of firefighters trained to rescue other firefighters in a structure fire.

The Orange Police responded and closed Derby-Milford Road to traffic, because once the fire hoses on the pumpers are charged you cannot drive over them without causing serious damage (and loss of water pressure to the scene).

Engine 33 and Engine 34 are manned and standing by at their respective stations.

Derby Fire was first on scene and is in charge of this fire call, even though it is in Orange. The two towns work together well and respect each other's position at the scene.

The three residents are safe outside and that, of course, is priority one.

The fire began in the basement in a wood burning or pellet stove and there was a fire in the chimney, which caused the emergency.

Chief Gagel said it was extringuished fairly quickly without much damage, except for smoke and water and the family was able to go back inside afterwards.

Fire Marshal Tim Smith investigated the fire and has been busy all day. When he calls me with his final report, I will Update this column.

All fire personnel left the scene at 8:46 a.m.

The Orange Volunteer Fire Department has responded to 37 fires in the past 31 days.