In the Danger Zone

     In March 1896, a fire destroyed the fire company headquarters in Ridley Park just outside of Philadelphia. At that time, the $300 insurance payment was sufficient to replace equipment lost in the blaze. The building, which also housed the town hall, was valued at and insured for $2,000. Maps, plans and stationery were lost in the fire. The community pulled together, and the remaining apparatus was stored in a nearby church and school. Church bells sounded fire alarms. Seven months later, a new firehouse was completed, and the company moved into its new quarters. The "new" firehouse is now home to Borough Hall, while the Ridley Park Fire Company continues to serve the area in a nearby station.

     In today's world, with thousands of dollars' worth of equipment, vehicles costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, mandatory records and many times more expensive construction, a fire or other disaster can be devastating to an agency. The Ilwaco Volunteer Fire Department in Washington learned this firsthand in November 2006, when a suspected electrical malfunction sparked a blaze that destroyed the service's building and most of its contents. One fire truck and a brush truck were saved, but an ambulance, two fire engines, a historic antique truck and a robot used for fire-safety demonstrations were lost, in addition to all the fire gear, breathing apparatus and medical equipment.

     Washington state has helped Ilwaco by returning copies of some records that had been filed with them, but training records, run sheets, historical documents and EMS call sheets are all gone. Their own members, local residents and businesses helped Ilwaco get back to the business of serving their community from other city properties and equipment loans, and fund-raising efforts helped to replace some gear while the fire company negotiated insurance payments. They are still missing some necessary firefighting gear, a fire truck and their ambulance. While a new building has been designed, rebuilding has been stymied while they try to negotiate a settlement with the city's insurance provider. The original loss and the seemingly never-ending delays to rebuild have had an effect on the morale of Ilwaco's dedicated volunteers.

     "The fire department members continue to train and respond to emergencies, but discouragement on the building progress is certainly evident," says Fire Chief Thomas R. Williams.

Coping With Disaster
     Schools, homeowners and businesses often have plans in place to survive indigenous semi-catastrophic events, but the fury unleashed by these events is often beyond expectation. Ambulance squads and firehouse personnel who suffer through a catastrophe can't afford to take time to lick their wounds when they are busy answering calls for help from the community—calls that seem magnified in both number and distress because of the damage to emergency vehicles, buildings and equipment. The same people the community depends on to help the injured may have been injured themselves, or they are frantic with worry about their own families and homes. Resources are taxed because of the number of casualties or because equipment was destroyed in the disaster, and first responders have to make do with makeshift tools. Depending on the extent of devastation and the area that was impacted, the concept of mutual aid may be mere fantasy.

     In 1994, the epicenter of the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake was located in the center of the Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion 15's coverage area. Every paramedic station and firehouse sustained some structural damage. Gas lines were broken, debris fell and chasms opened in garage floors. A total blackout disabled automatic garage door openers, houses had to be exited through back and side doors, and superhuman efforts were needed to get equipment on the road. Radio communications were poor and filled with static. Because of L.A. County's earthquake preparedness procedures, however, specific actions occurred immediately. Emergency responders arrived at disaster scenes knowing what steps to take. Rescuers' personal safety and rehab were stressed because of the long hours they had to work. Perhaps it was the investment in preplanning and disaster preparedness that saved countless lives and property.