7 FD units toned out for structure fire

[davidbond21]

Ok this happened Tuesday night(10/28/08) at about 10 to 10:30 pm in New Braunfels.

Heard an oddly long string of tone outs so I pricked up my ears to hear what was up. Engine 1, Engine 3, Engine 6, EMS 1, EMS 6, Rescue 1, and Battalion 1 were all called out to go to a structure fire at Hinman Island(in Landa Park by the river).

After everyone had responded and said they were en route, the dispatcher relayed that the structure fire was a set of bathrooms. And after about 1 more minute, a FD unit(didn't catch who) called in to say that the fire was two toilet paper rolls that were burning and close to spreading to the wood(walls), but that he had put it out with a fire extinguisher. Dispatch called for units to stand down, except for Engine 1, which after another couple minutes was also told to disregard.

Sorry. I know this isn't breaking news or some large scale incident, but it was so anti-climatic after hearing that many units respond that I had to share.

[rdale]

What would that department normally send on a structure fire? Sounds pretty typical other than missing a ladder...

[davidbond21]

I'm not trying to knock the FD(or the dispatcher). They do what they do, and I'm thankful for that. I'm just wondering how this got called in. And also a little knowledge of the area puts this into better perspective.

The structure in question, in the location it is in, is the ONLY building there, and it is like a 2-3 stall bathroom for each sex. This is along the Comal river and are public restrooms(the only ones) on the city property/access to the river. This is along Hinman Island Drive, and this part of Landa park is called Hinman Island(despite no island). About a 1/2 mile down the road, is a neighborhood that has private river access and there is a small island for use by the residents. This island is the actual Hinman Island, on the Comal, but just much farther upstream from the public park of the same name.

When we heard the dispatch to Hinman Island for a structure fire we were expecting a house to be blazing away in the neighborhood. It was actually in the park far away from any residences, or any other structures. I don't know what the dispatcher was told on the phone(if thats how it was reported), but until the first unit was on scene and reported what was going on(and that he stopped it), there were no details other than "structure fire." For what it turned out to be, the response was a bit excessive, not that I'm saying the FD should be second guessing the severity of fires or emergencies before on scene.

I realize that without a little familiarity with the area, my post seems less controversial. I was writing it with more regional/local members in mind, forgetting this is a worldwide community. Also, I may just be downright juvenile in my adulation for that much equipment to respond to two rolls of toilet paper, but for a little perspective, a grass fire I heard a month ago had maybe one or two more units responding to that than this incident which paled in comparison.

[rdale]

Now your story means more to us out-of-towners