THUNDER BAY – At approximately 3:25 pm on Dec. 4, 2019, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue responded to a report of a structural fire in a garage located in the rear laneway of the 800 block of McMillan Street.
Calls to 911 reported heavy smoke coming from a garage.
Fire crews from Station 1 which are located nearby, arrived quickly on the scene and reported heavy smoke and flame coming from the garage. A second alarm was requested by the first arriving fire command officer on scene. The first arriving command officer ordered crews to don breathing apparatus (SCBA) and deploy a 45mm attack hose line to knock down the heavy fire on the exterior of the garage.
Beside the garage were two large propane tanks that presented an additional hazard to firefighters because the tanks were directly exposed to the flames. One of the propane tanks had become involved with fire when a relief valve let go on the tank due to the high heat causing rapid expansion of the propane tank’s contents. Firefighters encountered intense flame from the ignited propane that was rapidly released from the tank.
Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire within moments of their arrival on the scene, thus preventing the fire from extending to the interior of the garage and to adjacent structures.
Additional fire crews and apparatus arriving at the scene to support the initial fire attack efforts, securing a water supply and providing an overhaul of the garage to ensure the fire had not extended through exterior walls or into the attic area of the structure.
There were no occupants inside the garage at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of this fire is under investigation by TBFR.
A total of five Pumpers, a Command unit, and an aerial ladder were dispatched to this incident.
