FALL RIVER, MA - On September 19th at 5:16 P.M., firefighters were dispatched to 277 Brightman Street on a still alarm. 

Platform 1 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from a vacant former casket factory. Car 2 arrived on scene and ordered all companies on scene to go defensive/exterior firefighting only. The department had recently preplanned the building and determined that the advanced state of decay warranted exterior operations only.

Command had serious exposure issues with the fire building surrounded by three-deckers. Command called for a second-alarm, followed rapidly by a third-alarm, and mutual aid to the fire scene and to cover empty stations.

Chief of the Department Roger St. Martin ordered a recall of off duty members to man spare apparatus and to respond to the scene, as apparatus was to remain on the scene until the next morning.

The operations were successful as the fire was contained to the original fire building. Several families had to be evacuated from their homes during the fire and were unable to return because power had to be cut to the surrounding homes.