At 1:37 AM on Sunday morning, the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department was dispatched to the Metro-North Railroad's Croton-Harmon Yards for the report of a trailer on fire in in vicinity of Building #33. A Full Department Response from us and automatic dispatch of the Ossining Fire Department as a FASTeam was dispatched.

Car 2082 (Assistant Chief Munson) arrived four minutes later, reported one trailer fully involved spreading to additional trailers across from Building #6A and had a re-dispatch for the "Working Fire." After completing a full 360 survey of the scene, a "10-75" was transmitted bringing in additional Mutual Aid Companies including an Engine from the Montrose VA, an Engine from Peekskill, a Tower Ladder from Ossining, a FASTeam from Yorktown and the Mask Service Unit from Buchanan.

Engine 119, Engine 118, Engine 225 and Tanker 10 arrived on the east side of the fire area and began to simultaneously cut locks and fences to gain entry, secure a water source and stretch three hose lines and deploy the Deck Gun from E119. Meanwhile, members from E120, TL44 & R18 worked to get two hose lines and the Ladder Pipe from TL44 into position. Members of TL44 and OFD TL42 worked together on the west side of the blaze to cut locks and fences as well. Car 2081 (Chief Dinkler) assumed Command, Car 2082 took Operations and Car 2083 (Assistant Chief Karpoff) worked on the west side of the blaze.

In all, five hose lines, one Deck Gun and one elevated master stream from TL44 were used to extinguish the blaze. Members were assisted in forcing entry in numerous trailers and storage containers by members of the OFD and YHFD. Later in the incident, an Engine from the Millwood FD - which was relocated to our Station #3 - was brought to the scene for relief purposes.

The total damage from the fire included five construction trailers with various contents, heat damage to nearby steel containers and a van. Due to the coordinated and quick efforts of all on scene, additional storage containers - many containing flammable, combustible and even explosive materials - never became involved. However, a number of smaller explosions from various products in the involved trailers did occur, some of which may have helped in the fire's rapid spread. Westchester County's Haz-Mat Chief Car 2001 was requested to the scene to evaluate runoff from the trailers as well.

In addition to the units above, our Utility 14, Croton EMS 55B2, Ossining EMS 74A1, Peekskill EMS Rehab 7506, Montrose FD U53 Rehab Bus, Westchester County DES Battalion 10, Car 2001 (Haz-Mat) & Cause and Origin Zone 4 were on scene along with Metro-North Police and Fire/Safety personnel.

All units cleared the scene after operating for four hours.

An Engine (E128) from Verplanck and a Ladder (L10) from Mohegan FD provided coverage during this incident for us at Station #3.

Photos provided by Nicky Abreau, JT Camp, Dave Kempter