Chief John A. Pond Sir, Regarding the events of January 1, 2017 ~ New Year Day: Atapproximately 0853 hours ELE.D. was dispatched to North Past and Fast Dwight St {ora report of smoke coming from the building. As I tumed onto Appleton St. a heavy plume of smoke was visible and [immediately called for General Alarm, Mutual Aid and ‘alTbock of freighters to man all reserve apparatus. Tuming onto East Dwight St, heavy fire was visible ftom the 3" floor left side of building to the 5" with fire into the eockloft and spreading rapidly aross the structure Heavy smoke was coming from the top 3 floors on the right side. It was immediately parent that tis building would be a total loss. ‘Upon arrival on seene, many residents were seen hanging out of windows sereaming for balp. Multiple windows onthe 3" and 4 floors of the East Dwight St. side and on the 3" ‘lor right side ofthe North Fast St. comer ofthe building, Engine I was first to arrive and was given the task of attempting to reach the 3 oor right through the 106 North East St. entrance to rescue esidents vis the stairway. Capt. ‘Cadigan along with FF L, Jackson brought a handline ino the building. FF J. Tourigny was the pump operator. Tank water was their only supply. While the Engine company ‘vas getting underway with their operation, Truck 1 artived and positioned clear of ‘powerlines and stared Aerial operations. The ew consisted of FF P. Kraus (AOG), FF ‘A. Deroy and FF D, Spafford, No regular crew members of Truck 1 Grp. C was working on this day. With FF Kraus tthe tip ofthe aerial, backed by FP Deroy the rescues began. Starting at the 4 floor through heavy smoke. FE Kraus helped residents from tei windows while FF Deroy brought them safely down the ladder. Aton point, FF Kraus lost his heivet ann had to remove himself rom his SCBA as it became lodged inthe aval after he was ‘knocked over on to eral by the residents he was rescuing and yet he sill went othe next window with no SCBA for rssues. Daring allthis, the Engine 1 crew encountered heavy fre atthe "floor and were unable two reach the apartment to safely evacuate tenants. However, the remaining resident was rescued by the Truck I crew. One resident did not wait, jumped from window and was injured All totaled, 7 residents were rescued by the Truck 1 erew via the serial ladder. The ladder ‘was operated by FF Spafford, who for being on the job for only afew years ran it like a veteran‘The courage and bravery displayed by FF Kraus and FF Deroy should be an example for the entre HED, | strongly recommend that FE Kraus and FF Deroy receive the top awards thatthe ELE.D. can bestow. eee eee ‘Cadigan, FF Jackson and FF Tourigny who operated Engine 1 should also be recognized ee etree eevee Deputy Chief Davi (O'ConnorFebruary 10,2017 Chief Pond, | waite to you to bring attention to the actions of some of the members of the Holyoke Fire Department atthe fire at 106 North Bast St. on Januaty 1, 2017. As the officer of Engine 1 that day, I feel compelled to give you this information. ‘We all know what a tragic, devastating fire this was but I can assure you that if not forthe ations ‘ofthe Truck I crew, the outcome would have been much worse. Firs, credit should be given to DC David O'Connor. While responding, DC 0" Connor called a secon alarm while til mile away from the sene. His quick decision 1 call for mutual aid and ‘call ack expedited geting additional resources to the sene. He gave clear orders, suppression and rescue, tothe first arriving unit before we arived that made us focus onthe asks and allowed uso immediately go to work upon arrival When we first arrived, the scene was chaos. There was heavy fire showing on the third, fourth and fifth floors, people in great distress hanging out windows on the thd and fourth floors and ‘dozens of people in the street. Truck 1 began rescues. They removed four people from the fourlh- floor windows and three people from the third-loor windows. Engine 1 deployed a line into 106 [North East St, Our intent was to keep the stairwell asa viable exit for tenanis and to ty and get the people trapped out ofthe building. We encountered heavy fre in the third-loor left apartment and were able to knock tis down with tank water. We then checked the third-floorright apartment and the last occupant was out onthe ladder. There was a tremendous amount of fre above the third floor. Lean assure you that there ismo way possible that we could have advanced tothe fourth floor to assist those tapped before they would have been overcome by fire or foreed to jump. Simply put, the Truck 1 crew, AOG P. Kraus, FF A. Deroy and FF D, Spafford saved four lives that momning, I believe, ifnet for their rapid actions, the four-people trapped on the fourth floor ‘would have perished, From what I witnessed, all Holyoke companies did a very good job at this fire under very adverse conditions but strongly believe that DC O°Connor and the Truck I erew deserve commendations. ‘Their actions should be recognized. Respectfully, ld. A. Cadigan in