Serving the Citizens of Clearwater, Florida and Pinellas County

Welcome to the Un-Official website of the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department. This site is intended to provide a view of incidents and news from the City of Clearwater and the surrounding area.

House Fire in North Greenwood with Injuries

February 23, 2008 - Just after midnight units from Station 45 and surrounding companies were dispatched to 916 Eldridge Street for a reported house fire with subjects burned. Company 45 arrived quickly to find a 1-1/2 story single family dwelling with fire showing from side charlie. Engine 45 quickly deployed the attack line while Truck 45 started the search. Rescue 45 went to work on a burned child that had escaped the house prior to the FD arrival. With assistance from LR49 and his aide, the pt was treated and prepared for transport to Tampa General. Engine 45 made quick work of the fire and the searches were negative. Fire and EMS units then performed check-ups on 6 more family members, two of those members were transported to Morton Plant and four refused treatment. Assistant Chief 45 (Pettingill) was the Incident Commander. This was a great job by all companies involved.

Extended Extrication in Countryside

February 12, 2008 - Engine and Rescue 50 were dispatched to Landmark Drive and Enterprise for a reported accident with one into a tree. Engine 50 arrived to find a single car accident with one person trapped. This brought Truck 48, Squad 49, LR49, AC48 and CL600 to the scene. Companies worked for close to an hour to remove the patient from his severely damaged car. Once removed the patient was transported to the Trauma Center via BayFlite. All companies did a great job at this incident.

Kitchen Fire on East Side

February 12, 2008 - Just before lunch companies on the East side were dispatched to N.E. Coachman Road for smoke coming from the apartment building. Engine 48 and AC48 arrived to find light smoke coming from a first floor apartment. Engine 48 quickly hit their own hydrant and stretch an attack line. Truck 48 arrived and completed the search with negative results. The balance of the companies performed tasks to check for extension and control utilities. Assistant Chief 48 (Jones) was the Incident Commander.

    Photos courtesy of Michael Handoga (St. Pete Beach Fire)

Apartment Fire on US Highway 19

February 4, 2007 - Fifteen minutes into the shift, the B-platoon was alerted to an apartment fire at 19029 US Highway 19 N.,Squad 49 approached the scene with a working fire. The initial report from LR49 was a one-story condo middle of the row with fire showing from side charlie. Engine 49 stretched the initial attack line to the structure with companies backing them up in the fire apartment and the exposures. All searches were completed by Truck 48, Squad 49 and Engine 48, they all were negative. The unit suffered heavy fire damage throughout. There was one civilian at home at the start of the fire and she refused transport. There were two firefighter injuries, both of them minor and they should be returning to work rather quickly. Assistant Chief 48-B (Chief Rick) had the Clearwater Command.

Accident at 19 & Sunset Point

January 8, 2008 - Units from Station 48, Squad 49 and AC48 responded to US Hwy. 19 and Sunset Point for a reported motorcycle accident under a car. The patient was found not to be trapped and was Bay Flighted to BFMC as a trauma alert.

Photos courtesy of Michael Handoga (St. Pete Beach Fire)

Apartment Fire on Sally Lane

December 18, 2007 - Just after lunch downtown units were sent to 621 Sally Lane for a reported apartment fire. Rescue 47 clearing a call in the area quickly marked on the scene with smoke showing. A fire was found in the apartment that was quickly handled by Engine 47 and Truck 45. Companies were on the scene for about 30 minutes. Assistant Chief 45 (Magness) was the Incident Commander. By the way it didn't take long for the Tiller to get back on top of the page.

I have been made aware of my delinquency in updating this site. I hope to become better at refreshing the site with some assistance from Tower 48-B shift as promised. So to please my new assistants I have added a picture of 48 Truck on a house fire awhile ago, taking full advantage of their freedom to get the Tower in the right spot no matter what the circumstances.

A-Shift gets first run with Tiller Truck

April 9, 2007 - After many days of training and equipment mounting the Clearwater Fire & Rescue placed their new 2006 Pierce Dash 100' Tiller in service today. A-Shift finished up some mounting items and completed their qualifications lists and was let go to put the new rig available. the first run was to 880 Mandalay Ave. for a fire alarm.

Apartment Fire on Vine Ave.

April 7, 2007 - Units from downtown were on the road late this evening for a reported apartment building with a fire in the bedroom. Engine 45 under the direction of Lt. Newland arrived to find a one-story block single story apartment building with a good fire going in the back bedroom. A quick knockdown was accomplished  and the searches proved negative. Command quickly held Station 45 and the Squad to finish up the overhaul. Assistant Chief 45 (Howell) was the Incident Commander. The fire is currently under investigation.

Building Fire on East Street

April 7, 2007 - At 0633 hours the assignment was struck for Drew Street and East Street for a reported building fire. Units from Station 45 arrived to find a large vacant one story commercial building with heavy fire involvement. With an exposure to the west and flying embers raining on downtown, the working fire dispatch was sent along with a special for two more engines. Tower 45 and Tower 48 were supplied and a knockdown of the main body of fire was completed in about 20 minutes. This was the second vacant structure to catch fire on this block in the last two months. Assistant Chief 45 (Pettingill) was the Incident Commander.

Early Morning Accident

Feb. 23 ,2007 - Just as shifts were getting ready to change units were sent to Fort Harrison and Sunset Point for an accident. Upon arrival units found a head on collision with serious injuries. Bay-Flite was called to the scene.

Vacant building fire Downtown

Feb. 22, 2007 - Just as the fire was getting knocked down on Fairwood, the 911 Center was transmitting the box to Laura Street and East for a building fire. With the large amount of calls going on in the city at this time the box was altered dramatically. Engine 45 arrived to find a one story vacant warehouse with fire showing from the charlie side. With no life hazard and the structure compromised a defensive attack was initiated. A large handline was put in service while waiting for the first truck to get there to put an elevated stream in service. A precautionary second alarm was called for by command put was put back in service quickly as the master streams made quick work of the fire.

Engines 45, 51, 46  Truck 41  Rescue 45  Squad 35  AC45

Apartment Fire on the East Side

Feb. 22, 2007 - The middle of the afternoon brought a flurry of activity to the city. It started with a structure call to 625 Fairwood Ave. for a reported apartment fire. CL-600 and AC45 arrived first to find smoke showing from the second floor. With TRT training and other calls in the area the first engine to arrive was Engine 40 from Largo. As the other companies quickly followed in the attack line was stretched ladders thrown and the knockdown of this kitchen fire was complete. All searches were negative and their were no injuries. Assistant Chief 48 (Jones) was the Incident Commander.

Engines 40, 50, 47  Truck 45  Squad 49  Rescue 50  AC48

Small Fire on Betty Lane

Feb. 22, 2007 - Companies were dispatched to smoke coming from a house at 1332 Betty Lane S. Engine 47 arrived to find light smoke showing from the eaves and the house charged with smoke. After pulling an attack line and searching the house along with 45 Truck. It was found to be a fire in the laundry room of the dwelling.

Veteran Squad Crew Retires

Feb. 15, 2007 - An end to two very familiar faces on Squad 49 as both Lt. R. Willms and D/O Larry Dean retired from the CFR on the 15th. These two highly dedicated and trained personnel are saying goodbye to the city. We only wish them the best as they start their retirement.

Some pictures from some accidents over the month...

House Fire on the Beach

Feb. 4, 2007 - On Super Bowl Sunday downtown companies were kept a little busy with a reported house fire in 47's area then a car into a house on Island Way. But after the game ended and as bedtime approached units were sent to 845 Mandalay Ave for e reported house fire. Engine 46 (Lt.Smith) arrived to find smoke and fire showing from a 1.5 story dwelling. Companies from 45 arrived soon after and assisted with the search and stretching of a back-up line. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Assistant Chief 45 (O'Neill) was the Incident Commander. The fire is currently under investigation.

Engines 46, 44, 44  Truck 45  Squad 49  Rescue 46 and AC45

Busy Friday Morning

Feb. 2, 2007 - Units from the West Side were alerted to a house fire at an assisted living home for a reported fire with burn patient. Engine and Truck 48 arrived to find a small fire with an elderly patient with burns to the face and in arrest. Rescue 48 along with the other companies removed the civilian from the structure and initiated ALS care. The patient was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her condition. The fire is currently under investigation. Assistant Chief of Training (Sparrow) was the Incident Commander.

Feb. 2, 2007 - Just as most of the units were clearing the above call Dispatch was sending Engine 45 and Engine 49 to Drew Street and Belcher for an accident. With reports of one overturned Squad 49 and CL-600 added to the call. Engine 45 (Quinn) arrived to find an SUV overturned with the occupants self extricating. Engine 45 held themselves along with a Sunstar and Paramedic Engine 49.

Airborne Car hits Building

Feb. 1, 2007 - Early in the morning units from the west side after handling a large dumpster fire at Best Buy were back on the street to Belcher Rd. and Gulf to Bay Blvd. for an accident. Units arrived to find a car that had apparently been traveling at a high rate of speed and went off the road, clearing a fence and striking a building near the roof line. The patient was extricated and flown to a local trauma center.

House Fire in 51's Area

January 31, 2007 - At 1405 hours the 911 Center dispatched companies for a reported house fire at 1150 LaSalle Street in Station 51's area. As units came from downtown a column of smoke could be seen in the area. Engine 51 laid out from a hydrant in the middle of the block and arrived to find a 1.5 story duplex with fire showing from the Bravo side of the house. Engine 51 and Truck 45 entered the house to start a search and to put a knock on this bedroom and hallway fire. Engine 45 checked the exposure with no extension and the Incident Commander (AC45 Pettingill) returned the working fire companies and held the first alarm. Two civilians were left homeless due to the fire and Red Cross was handling this issue.

First Alarm - Engine 51, Engine 45, Engine47, Truck 45, Rescue 45 and Squad 49

House Fire Downtown

January 25, 2007 -  A little after 10 PM units were dispatched to 704 Vine Street for a reported house fire. Engine 45 laid out on the way in and found a 1.5 story dwelling with fire showing from the rear and extension in the attic. The fire gained headway in the attic due to some construction features and companies were briefly pulled out. Assistant Chief O'Neill was the Incident Commander with the Deputy Chief monitoring at the Command Post.

First Alarm - Engine 45, Engine 51, Engine 47  Truck 45, Rescue 45, Squad 49

Fatal Accident on Causeway

January 17, 2007 - A motorcyclist was killed on the Memorial Causeway Bridge Sunday evening.The causeway, which links mainland Clearwater to the islands of Clearwater Beach and Island Estates, was closed for several hours after the accident but has reopened. Clearwater police said an eastbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle apparently spun out of control just after cresting at the top of the causeway at 6:43 p.m. The cyclist tumbled across a raised concrete median and was run over by a westbound car, police said. Engine 45 and Rescue 45 responded from downtown and arrived to find the patient trapped underneath the car. Assistant Chief 45 assumed command and coordinated with the PD the patient removal.

Shooting in 51's area

January 7, 2007 - A home invasion on Palmetto St. results in Engine 51 running one of the suspects being shot by the homeowner. A 16 year old youth suffered a gunshot to the abdomen and was flown to Bayfront by BayFlite after being treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue paramedics. The crime is being investigated by CPD.

January 2, 2007 - Units from Station 49 were dispatched to Fairwood Ave. for a reported auto accident with one overturned. Units from 49 arrived to find a Bronco overturned, personnel found no one trapped and returned the extrication upgrade and treated patients on the scene.

2006 Apparatus Run Totals

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