Top Stories - JFRD Gets Award from PETA for Effort in Humane Society Fire
The problems faced by firefighters in this building were incredible:
The fire at the Humane Society was a new kind of battle for firefighters.
"No fire alarms came in or anything, it was a passerby that saw it," said Lt. Michael Biladeau of Fire Station 28. "The whole roof was engulfed, so it lit up every room."
When they tried to get inside, they were faced with a challenge they hardly ever have to deal with.
"The place was like on lockdown. I mean every door was locked, we had to force all the doors," said Lt. Biladeau.
It quickly became exhausting. "It took extra effort to get into every door, so after about two or three doors, you're just really tired."
Once past the locked doors, firefighters found locked kennel after locked kennel.
"We'd be in a room and you'd have an engine guy spraying water, you'd have a ladder guy pulling ceiling, and at the same time another guy would be in there opening kennels, shooing dogs out."
