WPBFD History

found on the floor of her apartment. The cause was then carried as arson. The biggest change operationally in 1991 was the new multi-channel communications system that pro- vided eight channels for fire depart- ment communications. The old sin- gle channel system had been inade- quate for more than fifteen years, crowded with EMS and fire calls and normal radio traffic of other divisions. When a working fire was in progress proper communications verged on the impossible. Incident command had improved matters to some extent, but many firefighters feared the antiquated system would eventually cost someone their life. The Comeau Building fire of 1986 had been an example of the limited utility of the old system. A repeater system now allowed for clear recep- tion of transmissions even on port- ables at great distances. This im- provement alone amazed many of

firefighters were generally cautious, anticipating major changes. Rehr wisely left things more or less as they were. Changes would come, but the members of the department would take part in many of them. Rehr strove to open dialogue with everyone by having an open door policy and holding "Chiefing Around" meetings every month with the entire department. This was a difficult process considering the multitude of problems that had af- fected the department for so many years. The new chief persevered through many verbal attacks by wary firefighters. 1991 The Lakeview Tower Apart- ments, located at 2100 Australian Avenue, had long been one of the most troublesome occupancies for accidental and false alarms. Several

Robert B. Rehr, Chief 1990-1994

the old timers who had put up with the nearly worthless, hand-me-down police Handy-Talkies for so many years. The new radio system proved its worth at the Solid Waste Authority, 6501 North Jog Road, on March 10, 1991. A fire had started as a result of welding in the RDF storage building and quickly spread into the manufactur- ing building by way of three large conveyor chutes. The fire was dispatched at 3:22 p.m. Engine 61 arrived with Lieutenant Walter Byrd establishing command. With heavy smoke showing, Byrd requested two additional en- gine companies, another rescue company, and Platform 11. Access to the fire was difficult because of the con- struction of the buildings and acrid smoke produced as the rubber conveyor belts burned. T-44 was used to reach one chute so a hole could be cut to speed extinguishment. Chief Rehr assumed command early in the incident, directing 48 on-duty firefighters, 22 off-duty personnel recalled to the scene, 13 Palm Beach County mutual aid firefighters, and 11 Palm Beach County volunteers. The fire was controlled around 7:00 p.m., but hot spots in the piles of trash remained through the night. The American Red Cross provided refreshments and food during the 21 hours and 8 minutes it took to extinguish the stubborn fire. Damage to the multi-million dollar facility was esti- mated at $800,000. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries that included two back injuries and one case of pneumonia. The Solid Waste Authority, constructed in the late 1980's, was originally outside the West Palm Beach city

calls had turned out to be fires which had been contained to a single apartment. Units responded there once again at 6:04 p.m. on February 20, 1991. This call would be the worst fire yet in the four-story complex. Responding companies knew they had a working fire as heavy smoke was observed while they were en- route. On arrival firefighters found a free-burning fire on the fourth floor and prepared for an interior attack with simultaneous rescue. Most of the occupants had escaped the noxious smoke, but a few had to led down the stairs to safety as leader lines were stretched into position. Moments after the interior attack began, the master stream fog nozzles on T-44 were opened-up prematurely into the fourth floor windows. The firefighters inside were forced to retreat by the heat and smoke pushed into their faces. Luckily, no injuries resulted from the mix-up. Six residents of the building were treated for smoke inha- lation by paramedics and transported to area hospitals. Two-hundred people were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross provided meals and shelter for some of the seventy-five homeless families, while others moved in with family and friends. The fire was easily contained in the concrete struc- ture, but it burned so hot that structural damage to the roof was evident. Two adjacent apartments were gutted in the blaze. Caroline Williams, told investigators that the fire had started on the stove in her apartment when she dropped something on a hot burner. As the investigation continued however, evidence of a flammable liquid was

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