I was expecting to see flames leaping skyward and fire hoses trained on a
huge conflagration. However, Assistant Chief Jeff Brees, who has served in
the Markleeville Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, explained that with
the close proximity of other historic buildings in downtown Markleeville,
Training Captain Paul Washam and about a dozen other firefighters were
working with ³smoke bombs² on March 20. The training was at a small
commercial building scheduled for demolition, to be replaced with two new
buildings.
The event drew a small crowd, including several wide-eyed children, a
budding volunteer in every one of them.
On my arrival, a fireman was sawing through the building with a K-12 saw
which can cut through metal and masonry with its diamond blade. The drawback
is that it does produce sparks so it has to be used with discretion. A smoke
bomb was set off in the building and the crew was planning to vent the
smoke-filled space to improve visibility and to get rid of hot gases which
can cause flashover (when everything reaches a certain temperature at the
same time and bursts into flame.) The incident commander (all members of the
department receive training to take this responsibility) makes a plan and
assigns specific tasks. The acronym REVAS establishes priorities: rescue,
exposures, ventilation, attack and salvage.
One risk of ventilation is that with the introduction of oxygen the fire
intensifies so careful planning and communication are essential; the
firefighter¹s actions must be impeccably choreographed. As soon as the
ventilation has taken effect firefighters are ready to enter. In a one-story
building horizontal ventilation can be achieved by opening a window at the
side of the house farthest from the entrance to be opened.
In a taller building vertical ventilation is required. Ladders are set up
and a firefighter, once sure of his footing, saws a hole through the roof.
The men are instructed on where and how to saw the hole. Preferably it
should be between rafters and sawn in such a way as to form a hinge so that
it can be closed if the heat becomes too intense for those working inside
the house.
In Saturday¹s practice two men were on the ground and two on the roof,
breathing from air packs. The importance of thinking and making deliberate
moves was emphasized.
Once the hole was made and roofing and ceiling materials punched through by
an 8-foot pole, a gas-powered fan was placed 8 feet away from the downstairs
access point, in this case the door, which was then opened, drawing a
current of air through the building, sweeping the smoke though the hole in
the roof.
Alpine County Fire Department was started in 1947 in the wake of the Silver
fire which swept from Wolf Creek, consuming structures at East Fork Resort
(which were at that time on the Carson River), missing the town of
Markleeville and moving down to Nevada burning 14,402 acres.
Chris Gansberg request to the board of supervisors that a department be
established was approved and California Conservation Corps resources were
employed. Initially Woodfords and Markleeville formed one department.
Today there are four fire departments in Alpine County: Woodfords,
Markleeville, Kirkwood and Bear Valley. They are financed by the county¹s
general fund. Markleeville has six apparatus and 16 members on the roster,
some of whom are EMTs, others Red Cross certified. They are looking for more
members, especially strong, young men. They meet the first and third
Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m.
It is heartening to know that not only are our firefighters dashing and
daring, they also undergo well-planned, informative training.
So what will be rising from the smoke and rubble? The property was purchased
recently by Teddy Carlson Brown and Nick Hartzell and Ali Bornstein. On one
side Teddy plans to have a real estate office; on the other, Nick and Ali
are going run a restaurant. Both businesses will have upper story
apartments.
The previous owner, Bo McGilroy, is now in Napa County, cared for by his
sons. Many of us have happy memories of Molly¹s Boardwalk, better known as
Bo¹s Pizza. The business was named after Molly, mother of the town¹s large
deer herd. Doug and Billie Ford, former proprietors of the Alpine Hotel used
to feed apples to the deer. It is said that a seed from one of those apples
developed into the large apple tree at the side of the building.
Nick and Ali anticipate a fall opening for their dinner house where simple,
savory food, including pizza from a wood-fired oven, will be served four
days a week. We await the event eagerly.
Thanks to Jeff Brees and members of the Markleeville and Woodfords volunteer
fire departments.
