<p>Up-Island volunteer firefighters battled a major house fire off Moshup Trail in Aquinnah for several hours Thursday, finally containing the blaze by evening. No one was injured, but water supply was an issue.
Up-Island volunteer firefighters battled a major house fire off Moshup Trail in Aquinnah for several hours Thursday, finally containing the blaze by evening.
With no ready supply nearby, water was trucked in, first from the tribe's underground tank and later from a pond down the road.
With no ready supply nearby, water was trucked in, first from the tribe's underground tank and later from a pond down the road.
No one was injured, but the fire tested the response skills of the up-Island departments in an area with no ready water supply.
Aquinnah fire chief Simon Bollin said the call came in at 2:16 p.m. from the home at 4 Towhee Lane owned by Keith Oberg. The home has been under construction. Workers in the basement were involved in a spray insulation project when they saw smoke, got out and called the fire department, Chief Bollin said.
When the deputy fire chief arrived on the scene a few minutes later, smoke was pouring out of the basement, the chief said.
The response included two trucks from Aquinnah, three from Chilmark and three from West Tisbury. Edgartown also later provided mutual aid with its ladder truck which has the ability to refill air bottles, Mr. Bollin said.
Estimated 60,000 gallons of water used to knock down fire.
Estimated 60,000 gallons of water used to knock down fire.
Water supply was an issue, the chief said, since there were no hydrants nearby. Firefighters used 20,000 gallons from an underground tank housed on tribe property, and after that was depleted they took water from a pond at the corner of State and Lobsterville Roads.
Chief Bollin estimated about 60,000 gallons of water was used, in addition to compressed air foam from one of the Chilmark trucks. “It was a stubborn fire, tough to knock down,” he said. By 7 p.m. the fire was under control, with firefighters remaining on the scene for a few hours after that to monitor hot spots, Mr. Bollin said.
Home at Towhee Lane was under construction. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Home at Towhee Lane was under construction. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The extent of damage in the home has not been fully assessed, Mr. Bollin said. The cause is under investigation by Aquinnah Sgt. Paul Manning who has been trained in fire investigations. The chief said he was in contact with the state fire marshal’s office and it was determined that the investigation could be handled locally since there was no indication of arson and no personal injury.
Mr. Bollin said it was the first major fire in Aquinnah since he became chief some four years ago. He praised the response.
“All the departments worked well together,” he said, adding: “Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury had a drill very similar to this up at the Cliffs just a few weeks ago, so everyone had worked together recently. Practice does help.”
Comments
I have no idea what caused
Zachary tilton tisburyI have no idea what caused fire but owning my own foam insulation company. And being the one who sprays the foam.If they where spraying closed cell spray foam. It is very possible they could of caused the fire .You are only supposed to spray closed cell 2 inch passes and give time to cool before adding more. And if you spray more than that you take risk of burning foam.And it can smoke for a bit then catch fire.This happens when the sprayer is inexperienced or cutting corner's.They want to load it in so they can finish quickly. Or just take more breaks instead of doing right. Also if not due to over spraying. It could be due to flam from heating source or electrical wire being pinched small spark. The closed cell i use is ignition rated and wouldn't catch fire by sparks but there is still one big foam insulation company that its closed cell isn't ignition rated icynene mc200 . if your foam isn't ignition rated can't leave it exposed have to fire paint it. Fire may have nothing to due with insulation at all.But if it does i hope most people realize.
Doing spray foam is very safe but like any other field YOU need to know what your doing.And the person who does know needs to due more than sell the job they also need to be at the job when doing work.
As a certified spray foam
Certified spray foam installer VHAs a certified spray foam installer myself, I do agree and commend you for your accurate post. " Mr. Here today, gone tomorrow" is not who you want to choose for your insulation job. Choosing foam insulation is wise . Choosing an experienced professional to install it is also wise.
the viaggio's are hardly
don keller vineyard haven mathe viaggio's are hardly "here today, gone tomorrow" insulators. They are as experienced and as professional as any business on the island. While your advice is good-- hire reputable people--sometimes things happen, and it should not be on any of us to pass judgement on this particular case until we know more..
I use these people on all my companies' projects, and will continue to do so..
Why are you all so quick to
Spf pro USWhy are you all so quick to point a finger at the spf installer?
Spare us all your limited spf knowledge and answer me honestly please.
It didn't read to me, at
perhapsIt didn't read to me, at least the primary comment to which you may be referring, that the person was blaming the sprayers. Only pointing out a possibility of what could have gone wrong. I think perhaps you read to much into the first and then backed your idea by the more direct and particularly more unfounded second comment, no?
I've been spraying foam for
Nick ViaggioI've been spraying foam for 10 years. As well as haven taken every safety course offered by the foam industry. Have you taken any of these courses Zachary Tilton. I know what I'm doing on the job and have photographic evidence to prove that the insulation was applied as it should've been!
way to go simon and all the
flounder bob tisbury/berlinway to go simon and all the firemen !!hope no one was hurt.
Many thanks to the firemen of
Keith ObergMany thanks to the firemen of Aquinnah, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Edgartown for your timely efforts to put out the fire under difficult conditions. We are grateful for your service. Keith and Leeny Oberg
Having had a horrible
Paul Harris NJHaving had a horrible experience with spray foam in my house last year, I'm saddened to see yet another inexperienced spray foam company destroying a home. In a way we were lucky because at least they didn't burn my house down. But the foam we had installed was shrinking off the studs, releasing toxic fumes, and physically making me and my family sick every time we went in the house!! The spray foam company offered to patch the cracks but when I brought up the smell they told me that it will "go away on its own over time". I was so sick with the months of runaround from the spray foam company and its manufacturer, plus the lack of help from the Stace OCP, that I ended up having all the spray foam removed.
Learning that spray foam contractors don't require regulated certifications or specific licenses is beyond me!! Would you let an unlicensed plumber or electrician do work on your house? Why is the government not requiring certifications for spray foam companies to mix and spray toxic chemicals into homes that could cause health issues or fires??
I praise the firefighters for putting their lives on the line everyday and hope the Oberg Family can get some resolution.
You sir are an idiot.
James jacksonYou sir are an idiot.
No he is not. I've been
Chuck NNo he is not. I've been spraying foam for many years. It will catch fire and it can stink for many years if sprayed wrong. Can't tell you how many horror stories I have seen over the years...too many...
Cellar fires, regardless of
Rob Burnside Kingston, PACellar fires, regardless of the cause, are extremely difficult to fight, particularly in the early stage when little ventilation has occurred. The problem is, attack teams have to advance their lines down thought a wall of trapped heat hot enough to melt the helmet right off your head if you hesitate even for a moment. And you're rumbling down the stairs into unfamiliar territory through dark that's three shades darker than the darkest dark you've ever experienced. It's not unusual for firefighters to be unable to locate, and extinguish, the "seat" of a cellar fire before their air bottles run out. For all the above reasons, cellar fires have caused many line-of-duty fatalities. It's very fortunate no one was killed in this one.
I have been spraying foam for
Chuck N. CTI have been spraying foam for over 10 years and have seen closed cell foam combust more than once. This danger is very real. This happens if it sprayed too thick. but it can happen also if the foam is contaminated or something is wrong with the chemicals. Catching fire is the most extreme result when the product is sprayed wrong. In most cases when it is sprayed too thick or too hot the foam will just char or may shrink. It may also smell and the fumes will linger for a long long time. I have heard of houses having to be torn down or abandoned because the odor was so bad from foam sprayed incorrectly. There are hundreds of numbskulls running around spraying foam now. Anybody can jump into the business if they have couple of bucks. I agree with Paul above, the government needs to step in and get it under control. I see too many problems with foam happening. People need to know what is going on.
In the 1970s I was sent to
John Weiner Oh Bluffs MassachusettsIn the 1970s I was sent to Celsius form insulation training program a subsidiary of Bordon milk to pump urea formaldehyde foam insulation. After completing the program I decided the product was no good I returned to the company which sent me and told them that the product was no good and that I was not interested in handling the installation process. The company owner gave me two alternatives one to quit or to empty a large steel building full of fiberglass insulation and move it across the blacktop to another building by hand in the summer time so I spent the week carrying bales. In 1986 as a member of the Ironworkers UOh Bluffs Massachusettsnion in Boston I worked on the rescue effort of L'Ambiance plaza in Bridgeport Connecticut where construction failure caused the death of 27 workman. Overtime I've come to realize that we live in an imperfect world, and yet I believe that we as people as a whole try our hardest and do what we believe is the best we can. Years ago I worked with Nicholas and knew him only to be very dedicated and confident at the construction work we were doing. Over the years Russell Smith and I did several projects at the property in question as prior to the current owners of the house was his families. None of this is in any great expertise and why a fire resulted or any specific knowledge regarding the new foam insulation systems. But from reading through the various comments posted I clearly don't think that fanning the flames of this unfortunate situation is appropriate. Nor do I think making blanket insinuations is either. For the people that wrote which are involved in the industry it might make more sense to try to make solutions. Sincerely yours John Weiner
With all this talk about
action home services edgartownWith all this talk about being certified and qualified sounds like just talk,well here are our certs
1 all employees (me my wife and son)have had a 1 day training on spraying and equipment handling provided by pratus spray foam
2. Before using our product our equipment as well as employees were inspected on the job and also had a day of spray training by our foam manufacterer
3. I have taken all mass save insulation classes and are certified
4. Im am bpi certified envelope shell specialist and building analyst as is my son
4 my son is a hers rater we belong to the ber hers alliance
5 i hold a unrestricted csl,and hic
We blower door test all our jobs and provide a report
Note we are to busy and are not taking anymore contractors
MR. Viaggio has not informed
Larry SteffensMR. Viaggio has not informed us what the flame spread rating of the spray foam insulation nor its ignition temperature he was using which would help in determining the possible cause.
It is hard to believe the State Fire Marshals Office would not respond because there was fortunately not injured or not an arson to assist in the origin and cause investigation. As the Fire Investigation Division Coordinator of the fire department I worked for the help of the Fire Marshals Office and ATF very helpful even if the fire was not an arson or the were no injuries.
Time and time again we see
Peter Johns Portland MaineTime and time again we see instances where people or property are hurt, foam insulation is near by or used and the automatic finger point is to the foam. There are countless reasons a any fire can occur. This society has has transitioned to trial by public opinion. The judicial system is slowly being replaced. No one waits for data and facts before jumping to conclusions. One of the faults of the internet. Anonymous posting of comments and the demand for the daily new cycle has skewed our perception of reality, as it relates to everything. Everything is polarizing. Everything needs to be a page turner. I have worked in the insulation industry for 11 years. 10 of which specifically with foam. A bucket of water is dangerous if you don't pull your head out. Yes the industry needs training and certification. Like all industries, governmental regulation will come.
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