The emergency tones that sound from our fire pagers tell us a lot. This was the case Sunday evening when the tones sounded one after another after another. Just from the tones we are aware of two things, the incident is big and it is your town. The communications center announced a structure fire at 718 Main Street in Andover. Evening plans are over, time to respond.

The first unit to arrive found fire coming from the roof over the kitchen. Plans were quickly made for an interior attack into the structure and engine companies were assigned tasks. Operations, safety, water supply and sector officers were established and the fight was on. Hose lines were advanced through the front and side doors. Ventilation crews opened the roof over the fire. Very quickly the red glow of the fire darkens down and we changed from firefighting to finding and overhauling hot spots. Fire likes to hide in unseen nooks and crannies. Every firefighter knows if you don’t root out every ember you will be returning for a rekindle later.

This fire, like most others, requires the expenditure of great amounts of personal energy. The very best way to recharge firefighters is water, rest and a bit of food. The task of making these supplies available has been taken on by the Andover Emergency Services Auxiliary. In the early stages of this fire,the incident commander transmitted an E911 call for the Auxiliary to respond. The team has supplies and wagons staged to be quickly gathered and placed into service. You will see this valuable team wearing bright safety vests delivering food and water to the firefighters. The Auxiliary are an organized team that has been trained in fire ground safety and understand the different stages of an emergency incident and their valuable place in firefighter health and safety.

The kitchen and restaurant did sustain very heavy damage. Every firefighter wishes he could reverse that damage with great firefighting skills, but he cannot. We wish everyone involved our best with future plans.

We thank the super response and hard work of our mutual aid neighbors. Without your support the outcome would have been very different.

The task for the firefighters and Auxiliary is complete. Our equipment is clean and has been readied for our next tone. It is now time for our community to support the great team of the Blackwater Restaurant.