On Saturday Morning at approximately 8:10AM WRFD was alerted for a possible structure fire at the Shoreham-Wading River High School. Dispatch information was from a caller on site reporting smoke in the gym area. Chief of Department Mark Donnelly and 3rd Assistant Chief Denise Gluck arrived at the school and after being briefed by school officials on scene found an active fire in the roof/ceiling of the gym. Chief Donnelly assumed command, Chief Gluck was assigned interior operations and 2nd Assistant Chief Keith Ryan was assigned to roof operations. Mutual Aid was requested from Ridge and Rocky Point Fire Departments. WRFD Ladder 4 and Engine 13 arrived and were tasked with gaining access to the roof and gym to locate the exact location of the fire. With the help of their thermal imaging cameras, crews quicky identified an area of the roof that was burning. Ladder 4’s crew, using saws, pike pole and other equipment, began to “open up” the roof to expose the fire. Engine 13’s crew secured a water supply at a hydrant and stretched a handline into the gym for extinguishment. Ridge and Rocky Point crews arrived and were all immediately put to work. Multiple additional resources were called due to the labor-intensive “truck” work on the roof and long hose stretches required. Arriving crews from Manorville FD, Miller Place FD, Riverhead FD and Sound Beach FD were also all put to work. Brookhaven National Laboratory FD provided a Rapid intervention Team. Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance and Shirley Community Ambulance responded and stood by at the scene while Middle Island FD and Manorville Community Ambulance Stood by at Wading River Headquarters to cover any additional alarms in town. Wading River EMS members and District Paramedics set up a rehab area and the Wading River Auxiliary was activated and responded to provide food and hydration for all the members on scene. A Suffolk County Fire Marshall was requested and responded to investigate. Two Suffolk County Fire Coordinators were on scene to provide assistance as well as Suffolk County Fire Commissioner Rudy Sunderman.
In all over 100 volunteer personnel responded and worked in the heat and humidity to extinguish the fire with no injuries.
The alarm was placed under control at 10:23 and all units were cleared at 11:40.
Chief Donnelly would like to express his thanks to the WRFD members and all our mutual aid partners, members, officers and Chiefs for their help, support and a job well done.