I have added two links to our links page for two video reporters in the area. I certainly see them out there all hours of the night. Please look at their websites and YouTube accounts.

At 11:38 AM Clearwater Fire & Rescue Units were dispatched to 1315 Cleveland Street for smoke coming from the building. 45 Truck and Assistant Chief 45 arrived to find a one story commercial building with smoke showing from the bravo side and fire coming from the roof. Companies quickly forced entry from the rear and extended two lines inside to control the fire inside the building. The RIT company opened up the structure for the crews and units got to the roof to start controlling the roof fire. The bulk of the fire was contained in 25 minutes, the running roof deck fire took well over two hours to extinguish. This taxed units on the scene due to the work and the heat and humidity on this Sunday afternoon. Numerous special calls were made to bring in fresh companies to assist in exposing the fire in the roof and making sure it was contained. Late in the afternoon Engine and Truck 45 were called back to the scene to assist in extinguishing some hot spots. while working on these a Firefighter from Truck 45 fell through the roof to the office space below. The fall was a good 18 feet, he was certainly shook up and was transported to Morton Plant for a check-up. He was released later in the evening and will return to work soon. The fire is currently under investigation. There were 14 fire department units on the scene with over 40 personnel working. Assistant Chief O'Neill was the Incident Commander

Just after lunch units from the Clearwater Fire & Rescue and Dunedin Fire were dispatched to 2261 Banyan Drive for a reported garage fire. LR-49 arrived to find a 1-1/2 story single family dwelling with smoke and fire coming from the garage that was attached to the house. Engine 62 pulled a line while E-50 laid a supply line for them. Truck 48 completed a search with negative results and checked for extension in the attic and walls. No extension was found and the fire was contained in 10 minutes. CL-600 (Riley) was the Incident Commander. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries and the cause of the fire is believed to be cooking.

Just 30 minutes before midnight units from the Clearwater Fire & Rescue along with Pinellas Park units were sent to the Bayside Bridge for an accident involving multiple motorcycles. Company 49 and Truck 48 arrived to find four motorcycles involved with one on fire and four patients. One of the patients was flown to BayFront Trauma Center and two by ground to the same Trauma Center and one refusal. Please go to News News Inc. for video from this incident.

Late in the afternoon another Marine Rescue call was dispatched south of the city. Marine 44 our new Fireboat was dispatched as a mutual aid unit. Marine 44 responded to the Gulf and helped secure the civilians from the sinking vessel and transport them to the US Coast Guard Station. The calls for service for our Marine Units have certainly increased over the last couple of months. The centerpiece of our Marine Division is certainly the new Fireboat that our citizens graciously purchased for us.

Just before lunchtime a water rescue assignment was sent to the Sand Key Bridge. Units were advised of three persons that had been swept into Clearwater Pass by the current. Luckily the tired and exhausted swimmers were rescued by a passing boat and were able to make it to shore. EMS units treated all three swimmers and transported one to Morton Plant for a check-up.

A house fire at 810 Pine Street started a busy afternoon for Clearwater Fire & Rescue Units. Downtown Units from "The Rock" Station 45 along with assisting units responded to this house fire. The 1-1/2 story single family dwelling was found to have a room off by first arriving Operations Chief Riley. Engine 45 grabbed their own hydrant and extended a long line to the house. Truck 45 started a search while the "Can Man" made a good knock on the fire. The fire was knocked down and extension checked by the Engine and Truck while units assisted with the second line and taking care of utilities. A great job by the companies. After clearing this units on the East Side were sent to a bus accident with 7 patients then a stabbing on Druid Road that required the patient to be flown to a trauma center.

Late in the afternoon units from the Clearwater Fire & Rescue along with Fireboat 44 were dispatched to the Sand Key Bridge for a water rescue. Units were informed that a mile off the pass there was a pleasure boat that was taking on water with two persons aboard. Fireboat 44 with their crew from the Sand Key Fire Station responded from their dock to the location. They found two persons in the water clinging to their sinking boat. They quickly got both men on board and started a medical evaluation by the paramedic onboard. After transporting them to shore to a waiting transport unit all other units were placed in service. It has been a rather busy season for the Fireboat already and the coming months should only see an increased activity for this state of the art marine firefighting and rescue craft.

A busy holiday weekend for the Clearwater Fire & Rescue totaled 327 calls for service being answered by the department over the three days. A wide variety of calls from shark attacks, water rescues, assaults, stabbings, lightning strikes and our normal calls for service were dispatched and handled.