Firefighter radio broadcasts capture dramatic rescues amid Bayside apartment inferno
Emergency radio broadcasts from a massive fire at an apartment complex in Bayside early Saturday capture dramatic dialogue from firefighters who enter the building and rescue residents as the fire grows in intensity and races through the building.
The first fire units on the scene report that there are at least three apartments on fire and that firefighters are stretching hose lines as they prepare to fight the fire.
At least 14 people were rescued from the massive blaze, which was reported around 12:15 a.m.
The audio was obtained from Broadcastify, a platform for streaming live audio of public safety, aircraft, rail and marine-related communications. The audio reflects about 30 minutes of radio transmissions edited for brevity and elimination of gaps and garbles.
Firefighters inside the structure were breathing through their air masks and are sometimes muffled as they report their locations to commanders who are working to keep track of the crews in the building.
All this is happening as fire breaks through the roof, making conditions extremely dangerous for anyone still inside the building.
Radio transmissions indicate that searching the building and rescuing anyone inside is the immediate priority.
“We had to make a diversion to make a balcony second-floor rescue,” a firefighter reports back to a commander.
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More reports of rescues are called in to commanders via radio.
"We’re on the third floor ... doing a rescue which we are just about done with,” another firefighter says via radio.
Other rescues are occurring as more fire crews and equipment arrive at the scene as a second alarm is called.
“We’re pulling (a victim) out of the second floor, coming down the ladder with her,” a firefighter reports.
“I have two victims, conscious... I’m on the second floor… I can get them down… Truck 82 is going to remove them right now,” still another reports.
All of this is occurring as the blaze builds in intensity.
“…She’s out and safe,” a firefighter tells a commander and then adds, “Be advised the fire is running to the east along the top of the roof. We’re going to lose that second part (of the building.)”
Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554 or jtaschler@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeTaschler or Facebook at facebook.com/joe.taschler.1.