Manhattan - All-Hands/Grand Central Station* -1-9-09

[ryang 166]

Date: 1/9/09

Time: 10:20 hours

Location: Grand Central Station (Park Ave between E41 and 48 st) AND Metro-North Tunnel @ E52 and Park Ave

Frequency: 154.250 (FDNY Manhattan)

Units Operating: Division 3 and Battalion 8 with 2 separate alarm assignments plus special calls.

Description Of Incident: Track fires just north of Grand Central Terminal with smoke pushing back into the station and trains stuck in the tunnel.

Writer: ryang

Additional Info:

Midtown Manhattan, NY, 1/9/09

Locations:

Grand Central Station @ Park/Vanderbuilt Aves between E41 and E48 sts

Metro-North Rail Tunnel (below grade) via Emergency Exit @ E52 st and Park Ave

Box 794

Engs. 65, 21, 8, 54, 40

L4, L2, L24

Battalions 8, 9, 7

Rescue 1

Division 3

CIDs for Grand Central Station:

Respond to taxi ramp at E43 st and Vanderbuilt Ave. 4th Engine, 3rd truck, and 2nd Battalion Chief to respond to North Command Post at E48 st and Park Ave

Transit reports rubbish burning at approximately E50 st and Park Ave.

E8, L2 will respond to emergency exit at E52 and Park Ave

10:28 hours

Battalion 8 is assigned to the FD command Post at E43 st and Vanderbuilt Ave

Battalion 9 is assigned to the North Command Post at E48 st and Park Ave

Battalion 7 is assigned to E52 st and Park Ave

10:30 hours

Battalion 9: Were at 52 and Park, Engine 8 is requesting Power-Off, they have railroad ties burning. Re-direct Battalion 7, have Rescue respond this way.

10-75-794 - 10:30 hours

Battalion 9: Transmit 10-75, we need squad company and 2 more engines, we're stretching a 2 1/2 line the equivalent of approximately 3 stories down.

Division 3: We're 10-84 at 52 and Park, have all units assigned to this box respond this way.

TL21 is the FAST truck

10:30 hours

BC9: We have about 20 to 30 ties on fire at this time, cannot locate the standpipe at this time due to heavy smoke in the stairwell, we're trying to determine what track it's on, we have metro-north personnel on scene

7-5-794 - 10:35 hours

DC3: Using All-Hands, have Battalion 8 remain at Grand Central to coordinate.

E34 (FieldCom Satellite)

E33 w/ High-Rise 1

Squads 288, 1

FieldCom

RAC4

10:35 hours

L4 is investigating in Grand Central for a smoke condition, unable to respond to E52 st

10:35 hours

DC3: We're establishing the command post at 52 on Park Ave

10:37 hours

Squad 18 available assigned in replacing Squad 288

Rescue Battalion S/C

10:38 hours

Battalion 8: All clear in the Terminal, no smoke at this time.

10:39 hours

DC3: We're requesting power off on the Y and E lines. Also find out from Metro North if they have any more trains coming down these tracks.

10:42 hours

BC8: At 43rd and Vanderbuilt, give me 2 more engines and 1 more truck, we're getting reports of smoke on tracks 107 and 108 on the lower level.

E202 acting 5, TL35 S/C

10:42 hours

E23 is on-scene at another box, assigned in.

10:43 hours

DC3: At box 794, we want all power off on all tracks between 52 and 50.

Battalion 45 is relocating to Battalion 8

10:44 hours

BC8: Be advised, in the Terminal we have a light haze on tracks 107 and 108 at this time.

10:45 hours

DC3: Box 794, we're going to use All-Hands, we have railroad ties burning across all 4 tracks. We have 2 trains in the vicinity that we're going to allow Metro-North to power up and cross the area.

10:46 hours

E44 S/C to 43 and Vanderbuilt.

10:49 hours

TL35 is delayed due to heavy traffic

10:51 hours

L128 is 10-8 in L2's response area

10:53 hours

DC3: Send me an additional truck to this box.

TL7 S/C

10:53 hours

E15 is 10-8 in E21's response area

10:54 hours

DC3: Have Ladder 7 report into 50 and Park and meet with Battalion 7 at the emergency exit at 50 st.

10:55 hours - Duration 36 minutes

DC3: We're looking from Metro-North a confirmation that both trains have been removed and that all power is off. At this time we're still using All-Hands, waiting for confirmation that the trains have been moved, then we can stretch from the standpipe. We do have a standpipe here, we're just waiting for confirmation.

10:56 hours

E258 is relocating to E23

L8 is 10-8 in L24's response area

E76 is 10-8 in E54's response area

10:58 hours - Duration 40 minutes

DC3: Progress report for box 794, continuing to wait for confirmation of power off. We have Battalion 7 operating at the emergency exit at E50 st. Metro-North advises they have activated the emergency exit fan. All their personnel have been evacuated due to the smoke condition. Can you ascertain from Battalion 8 the conditions at the terminal, and can you also confirm who they have operating with them.

11:01 hours

BC8: We're operating with E44, E202 acting 5, L4, and TL35. We have a medium smoke on the lower level that serves tracks 101-117. At this time as a precaution we're evacuating all passengers from the lower concourse which is approximately 100 people. The smoke is getting a little heavy, we're upgrading to a medium smoke condition.

11:02 hours

Metro-North reports that as of 10:53 hours: all Upper Level tracks from 59st to the end of Grand Central Terminal are de-energized.

11:03 hours

E37 is 10-8 in E40's response area

11:05 hours

In the borough of Manhattan, Fallback Step 3 has been implemented. Normal responses will be adjusted as per 6.4.1 of the communications manual.

11:06 hours

Battalion 7: We have the emergency exit open at E50 and Park, there is no smoke issuing from the exit, we have a light haze in the Waldorf Towers but we have no major condition, we are monitoring at this time.

11:09 hours

Metro-North advises they cannot provide track numbers for the powered down tracks.

11:08 hours - Duration 49 minutes

FieldCom: Progress report for Manhattan All-Hands Box 794, that's the Metro-North Railroad tracks at approximately E52 st, Division 3, Deputy Chief Strong reports: they are going to start attacking with a line.

11:10 hours

BC8: The smoke condition is worsening on the lower concourse, special call an additional truck to this location. The employees in Tower A, B, and Q have been evacuated as a precaution.

TL12 S/C

11:11 hours

BC8: Be advised we have Metro-North fans operating in the tunnels, they're starting to pull smoke into the MetLife Building.

11:12 hours

FC: Box 794, Battalion 8 is in contact with Division 3, and they are going to shut down those fans.

11:15 hours - Duration 56 minutes

FC: Progress report for Box 794, DC3 reports: At 52 st and Park Ave, the smoke condition is middle. Battalion 9 is operating at track level and has all visible extinguished. They will be shutting down the fans and they will be venting through the emergency exits, Probably Will Hold.

11:16 hours

BC8: Start me out another EMS bus for this location, we have some passengers complaining of smoke inhalation.

11:18 hours

BC8: We're going to transmit a 10-45 code 4 (Green Tag, Minor), passenger with smoke inhalation, E202 is bringing him up to the main concourse level where EMS is going to treat him.

11:20 hours - Duration 1 hour 1 minutes

FC: Progress report for Manhattan Box 794, DC3 reports: Fire Under Control.