Working Garage Fire With Transition to Interior Attack • Regal Street, Stockton, California

On August 8th, 2019, Stockton Firefighters responded to a working garage fire on Regal Street. Engine 9 arrived on scene first-due, gave a size-up, checked the front door for access, and deployed an 1 3/4 attack line. Engine 9 crew worked to knock down the visible garage fire from the exterior, then moved inside to address the possible attic fire. From the initial 9-1-1 call to firefighters extinguishing the fire in the structure took approximately 10 minutes. In the Stockton Fire Department, there are generally two strategies for extinguishing a garage fire: advance to the interior man-door (usually where the kitchen meets the garage) and attack the fire with a handline, or attack from the exterior with a handline or larger (2 1/2 or deck gun possible depending on amount of fire activity). This video shows the initial conditions that would prompt Stockton Firefighters to take a line inside to protect life and property, and stop the fire at the man door and fight it from there. However, upon pulling and charging the line- the fire activity had increased in the garage. This crew adapted to the needs of the emergency and started the firefight by 'knocking down' the garage fire from the exterior. As a second line was deployed from the next-in engine, the first-due crew moved their line inside the house to address the possible attic fire. Addressing the possible attic fire is more important than the working garage fire because if the attic become fully involved, there is a chance of losing the entire house and all belongings. As with any firefight, the incident can change quickly- and our strategy and tactics must change with it. Stockton Firefighters are routinely able to adapt and overcome on the fireground. This fire was extinguished fast and without injury or incident. We thank you for your views, support, feedback, and comments. Comments that contain profanity, incite controversy, or are intended to 'troll' will be deleted. We can not express enough that this video is intended to educate the public on what Stockton Firefighters must encounter- not host a platform for people to argue about personal issues or the fire service. We reserve the right to delete comments as we see fit. We are proud to serve the citizens and City of Stockton, California.