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@VanFirePIO
On November 19th, 2024, at approximately 6:30pm, Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched for a boater in distress at Marine Park Boat Launch. Callers stated that there was a male subject and his dog on the boat, and they were unable to get close enough to the dock to get off due to storm conditions and an unstable dock.
When the fire department arrived at the dock, they noticed a 32-foot sailboat partially tied to a very unsteady dock. The initial fire department crew contacted the male who stated he was unable to get himself and the dog off the boat. The fire crew attempted to assist the person from the boat, but it was too far to make it to the dock safely. The fire department switched plans and decided to use the Fire Boat to attempt the rescue. The Plan was to push the boat to the dock, but the conditions did not allow this to happen. A rescue swimmer was then deployed to the sailboat and was able to move the dog and the male subject to the Fire Boat.
This was a very technical maneuver by Vancouver Fire Boat crew. The Fire Department spend a lot of time and effort to train for these very situations and tonight that training paid off.
Vancouver Fire responded to the scene with a Battalion Chief, two Fire Engines, a Truck company, and Fire Boat 1 for a total of 14 Firefighters. There were no injuries to report, and all parties and pets were reunited with their loved ones.
A fire at 608 15th St in Vancouver was called into 911 at 640 AM Tuesday Morning. Firefighters were dispatched and arrived to find a fully involved house fire. This house was a known abandoned structure that was frequented by unauthorized personnel and firefighters had previously developed a preplan to safely extinguish a fire if one started there, as in this very case. The difference in strategy between this particular house fire as compared to other fires is that firefighters preplanned to make large cuts around the windows of the structure to make it safer and easier to extinguish the fire. The house was full of debris and unauthorized belongings so it was safer to fight most of the fire from the outside first. An excavator was called to the scene through Vancouver Public Works to assist in safely knocking down the structure since it had suffered extensive damage. About 5 fire engines, 2 ladder trucks, 2 Battalion chiefs and several support staff were on scene for a total of about 32 personnel. A few units were on scene for several hours ensuring that the fire was completely extinguished. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office.