Defensive Ops: God’s House of Prayer, Vacant Plaza Hotel Burn Down in Gary


Gary Fire Department 2nd Alarm fire with collapse at 8th and Washington in Gary, Indiana.

Gary firefighters responded about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to a fire in a vacant building where a church was renting out part of the space in the building

Gary Engine 8, 12, Truck 1, Squad 2 and Ambulance 408 and Safety Officer 153 were dispatched to a reported building fire in the 700 block of Washington Street. On arrival Gary Fire Department Safety Officer 153 reported heavy fire showing in a three-story brick 90×55 building. It was quickly determined that an additional truck and engine were needed. Within minutes a box alarm was requested, followed by a 2nd alarm. Crews quickly set up Trucks 1 and 2 along with deck guns and handlines. An additional truck from Merrillville and Munster were requested to the scene along with an Engine from US Steel.

The fire communicated to two buildings to the rear of the original fire building. Crews did an incredible job containing the fire and minimizing damage to surrounding structures. No injuries were reported at the fire scene.

Gary, Indiana (population 80,294) is just southeast of Chicago. The population of Gary, Indiana was 178,320 in 1960.

The Gary Fire Department is divided into three main divisions. The division of Fire Suppression & Rescue is the largest division in the department, and is the division that routinely interacts with the public. This division is divided into three shifts which staff on 12 engines, 4 trucks, 1 squad and 1 tanker 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The Division of Emergency Medical Services is the busiest division of the department, responding to over 26,000 emergency calls per year. The supportive services divisions, as its name implies, supports daily operations in both the Fire Suppression and EMS divisions.

Division Assistant Chief
Battalion 4 Chief
Stations 4, 2, 12
Battalion 7 Chief
Stations 1, 7, 11, 12
Battalion 8 Chief
Stations 3, 8, 9, 13
Battalion 10 Chief
Stations 5, 10

Division 1 Assistant Chief James Stanton
Battalion 4 Chief Robert Groszewski
Battalion 7 Chief Mark Jones
Battalion 8 Chief McClinton Pritchett
Battalion 10 Chief Donald Williamson

Division 2 Assistant Chief Cary Darnell
Battalion 4 Chief James Delgado
Battalion 7 Chief Dorwine Roberts
Battalion 8 Chief Marlon Coutee
Battalion 10 Chief Everett Lenoir

Division 3 Assistant Chief Theodore Williams
Battalion 4 Chief Robert Freeman
Battalion 7 Chief Freddrick Gilmore
Battalion 8 Chief Evin Joseph Eakins
Battalion 10 Chief Lamont LaBroi
In 2007 total runs for Fire was 6,888.


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