By DONNA PAZDERA and ALAN CHERRY Staff Writers
Web-posted: 10:25 p.m. Dec. 18, 1997
OAKLAND PARK -- Firefighters had to remove fences and
cut through people's yards so they could get hoses from
hydrants to battle Thursday's inferno at Kings Park
Condominiums. The logistical problems cost firefighters precious
minutes, perhaps creating the difference between winning
the battle and fighting a lost cause.
"We had to do some finagling to get through," Oakland
Park Fire Chief Jim Henson said."We were running into problems
with traffic and cars (on Federal Highway) blocking the lanes.
"The closest hydrant was at least 200 feet from the fire
scene, on the east side of the property on Federal Highway.
Stretching hoses from that hydrant back to the fire
scene added five to 10 minutes before firefighters could
start attacking the flames, a firefighter said.
"We were always behind the curve," Henson said. "It got ahead of us."
City records show that there are six other hydrant around the condominium
but none on the south side of the building.
To get to the hydrants north of the complex, crews
had to devise ways to feed the hose lines from the
hydrants through neighbors. In addition, some fire officials
are blaming the architecture of that building for allowing the fire
to spread so quickly. The building's roof lacked fire stops, which
are walls
that restrict heat and gases to small sections.The blaze ripped
through
the attic like wind through a tunnel. Officials also said Oakland Park's
department is so small that its resources were quickly overwhelmed.
Once its initial crew of a ladder truck, a fire engine and two rescue
vans
arrived and assessed the scene, they called for additional help.
In all, it took 55 firefighters from Oakland Park, Broward
County, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton
Manors about two hours to put out the fire.
One major hitch threatened an otherwise quick response.
A Fort Lauderdale ladder truck got a flat tire en route
from the downtown station. That meant waiting for the city
to send another ladder truck from the beach.
Despite the delay, Fort Lauderdale Fire Chief Otis J.
Latin Sr. said the city was not slow to respond to the call
for help. "We were not slow to get there," Latin said.
"We responded immediately when we were asked for
mutual aid." Staff Writers Robin Benedick, Tessie Borden and
Rafael
Lorente contributed to this report.
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