Western Mass. Fire Photography by Nate Arnold

Your Bio

My name is Nate Arnold and welcome to my website. I have been an avid fire buff/photographer in the Metro Springfield, Mass. area since late 2001 and have the ultimate goal of becoming a career fire fighter. Aside from my fire photography experience, I am a holder of 2 Associates degrees, one in business management with a focus on sports francises and the other in Fire Protection/Safety Technologies. As to my photography equipment, currently I run with a Kodak Z712 with Image Stabilization technology. I have had my photos published on firenews.org, firehouse.com, 1rbn.com as well as in Firehouse magazine, 1st Responder newspaper and my hometown paper, the West Springfield Record and most recently on two of my area's union websites, Springfield's iafflocal648.org and Holyoke's iafflocal1693.org. Have a look around my website and feel free to leave me a comment or two as to how I'm doing.

Note: The photos on this site are my personal property and are not to be submitted/linked to any other website without my express permission.

Slideshow

Featured Galleries

Springfield 3rd Alarm 380 Franklin St. 7/5/09 : Springfield took on their first 3 alarm fire in almost 2 years at 2320 hrs. on 7/5/09. Dispatch received 4 911 calls stating that a vacant house at the corner of Franklin St. and Crane St. in the lower end of the Liberty Heights neighborhood was fully involved. Upon arrival, Engine 1 confirmed they had a 3 story wood frame vacant multiple dwelling fully involved and that the "D" side exposure building, a similar 3 stry. frame multiple was involved as well. To make matters worse, a 3rd buliding several doors down was pushing light smoke as a small fire took hold in the attic, started by flying embers from the original fire building. Command struck the 2nd and then 3rd alarms in short order and requested mutual aid to cover the city's 8 empty firehouses. The fire took several hours to bring under control and just after 2:30 a.m., without warning the heavily damaged D side exposure building collapsed completely. Thankfully, no members were inside at the time of the collapse but shortly afterward, command staff learned there were 2 large propane tanks now burried in the rubble of the building and fearing a possible explosion, all none essential personnel were moved out of the area and down the street several hundered feet. It was later determined through contact with the homes propane supplier that the tanks were most likely empty but a hand line and ladder pipe were kept trained on the debris just in case.

Springfield 3rd Alarm 380 Franklin St. 7/5/09

Springfield took on their first 3 alarm fire in almost 2 years at 2320 ...

Updated: Jul 08, 2009 8:22am PST

Galleries

Springfield W/F 242 Walnut St. 11/1/09 : After an excruciatingly long (nearly 2 months) dry spell, I finally caught a good job in Springfield. This fire was reported at 0530 hrs. on Sunday 11/1/09 but I found out about it 2 hours later. Thinking I was just going to get overhaul shots I made my way into Springfield only to discover the fire was no where near under control and actually got some good working shots. The fire is reported to have orignated in the basement of this single story taxpayer in the six corners neighborhood and subsiquently took off on the overnight crew. As has been the case so many times before, the overnight tour group was relieved on scene by the day tour who picked up the battle around 0800 and were just finishing up with the fire fight by 1100 hrs. Photographer's note: It was at this job that I noticed Springfield has begun evaluating a possible return to traditional style fire helmets (Morning Pride) from the ugly modern style lids that they have been using since the department switched to fully encapsulating PPE in the early 1990's. Being a (no pun intended) traditionalist it warms my heart to see the members of this proud department once again wearing proper head gear and I sincerely hope the department decides to keep the traditional style helmets.

Springfield W/F 242 Walnut St. 11/1/09

After an excruciatingly long (nearly 2 months) dry spell, I finally ca ...

Updated: Nov 02, 2009 8:16am PST

Springfield W/F 36 Cleveland St. 8/5/09 : The tones went down for this job shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 5th. Arriving within 3 minutes, Chief 1, (DFC Neffinger) advised Dispatch he had fire showing from the C side attic window of a 2 and a 1/2 story wood frame dwelling. The building, vacant at the time suffered moderate damage to the attic and second floor. The fire, believed to have been started by squatters, is under investigation by the SFD.

Springfield W/F 36 Cleveland St. 8/5/09

The tones went down for this job shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday ...

Updated: Aug 06, 2009 2:49pm PST

Springfield W/F 59 Kingsley St. 7/26/09 : Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I was literally one block away when this job was toned out. The call came in at 2:30 p.m. for a reported propane tank on fire near the garage and when we arrived on scene it was evident that the fire had extended to the detached 2 bay wood frame garage. Engines 9, 10, 8, Ladders 8, 1 and 3 (RIT), the Rescue Squad and Chief one operated at this fire for just over 20 minutes. On an related note, this was the first time that I can recall NOT having issues with responding SPD officers at a fire.

Springfield W/F 59 Kingsley St. 7/26/09

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I was literally ...

Updated: Jul 26, 2009 10:22pm PST

Springfield W/F *Single Fatality* 685 Bay St. 7/11/09 : On the rain soaked night of July 11th, SFD companies were toned out to 685 Bay St. for a working fire. Upon arrival, first due companies reported they had a working fire with fire venting on the D side of a one and a half story single family frame dwelling. Members reported having difficulty forcing the A side entrance door and had to seek out alternate means of entry due to the report of a civilian trapped inside. After gaining entry, crews located a 37 year old female occupant in the kitchen of the home, removed her to the front and began CPR. AMR ambulance service transported her to Baystate Medical Center where she was pronounced dead a short time after arrival. This is the 3rd fire fatality in Springfield in less than a month and, sadly, this fire occured directly next door to 671 Bay St., the site of the June 27th worker that claimed the lives of two young brothers. According to SFD Captain Mike Richard, it appears that 685 Bay St. had only one functioning smoke detector, located in the basement.

Springfield W/F *Single Fatality* 685 Bay St. 7/11/09

On the rain soaked night of July 11th, SFD companies were toned out to ...

Updated: Jul 12, 2009 7:58am PST

Springfield 3rd Alarm 380 Franklin St. 7/5/09 : Springfield took on their first 3 alarm fire in almost 2 years at 2320 hrs. on 7/5/09. Dispatch received 4 911 calls stating that a vacant house at the corner of Franklin St. and Crane St. in the lower end of the Liberty Heights neighborhood was fully involved. Upon arrival, Engine 1 confirmed they had a 3 story wood frame vacant multiple dwelling fully involved and that the "D" side exposure building, a similar 3 stry. frame multiple was involved as well. To make matters worse, a 3rd buliding several doors down was pushing light smoke as a small fire took hold in the attic, started by flying embers from the original fire building. Command struck the 2nd and then 3rd alarms in short order and requested mutual aid to cover the city's 8 empty firehouses. The fire took several hours to bring under control and just after 2:30 a.m., without warning the heavily damaged D side exposure building collapsed completely. Thankfully, no members were inside at the time of the collapse but shortly afterward, command staff learned there were 2 large propane tanks now burried in the rubble of the building and fearing a possible explosion, all none essential personnel were moved out of the area and down the street several hundered feet. It was later determined through contact with the homes propane supplier that the tanks were most likely empty but a hand line and ladder pipe were kept trained on the debris just in case.

Springfield 3rd Alarm 380 Franklin St. 7/5/09

Springfield took on their first 3 alarm fire in almost 2 years at 2320 ...

Updated: Jul 08, 2009 8:22am PST

West Springfield W/F 69 Skyline Drive 6/13/09 : This job came in around 1445 hours on Saturday June 13th. The fire required all 3 of West Springfield's Engine companies, Ladder 1 and Medic 1 to respond. At the height of the fire, Agawam FD was called in for mutual aide station coverage for about 1 hour. The fire itself took only 20 minutes to knock down but required about an hour and a half of overhaul and salvage operations. It is believed a plumber working on the second floor started the fire accidentally. **Note, in the first video and several photos, that is WSFD Engine 3, not Ladder 1. Engine 3 is a 2007 ALF 75 ft. Rearmount Quint. I would say (guessitmation of course) that Engine 3's main ladder has had more operational hours put on it than Ladder 1's but being a single rear axle rig as opposed to Ladder 1's twin screw, E3 is more manuverable.**

West Springfield W/F 69 Skyline Drive 6/13/09

This job came in around 1445 hours on Saturday June 13th. The fire req ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2009 8:33pm PST

Chicopee, MA 2nd alarm 17 Wilmont St. 6/1/09 : This job was called in to Chicopee fire at 12:50 p.m. on Monday 6/1/09. The initial 911 call was for reported smoke in the intersection of Montauk and Wilmont Streets in the Willamansett section of the city. While still en route, 358 (Chicopee Fire Dispatch) notified the responding Deputy Chief that Police were reporting a 2 story frame dwelling fully involved. Upon arrival, crews were presented with the same and advised 358 there were making a rescue from floor 2 side A of one victim. Aside from the victim and her 80 year old husband who was forced to leap from the 2nd floor before CFD crews arrived, no other civilians were injured at this fire. The home, unfortunately has been deemed a total loss.

Chicopee, MA 2nd alarm 17 Wilmont St. 6/1/09

This job was called in to Chicopee fire at 12:50 p.m. on Monday 6/1/09 ...

Updated: Jun 01, 2009 10:21pm PST

My Smug Mug : Me just before running the '08 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers run.

My Smug Mug

Me just before running the '08 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers run.

Updated: May 08, 2009 7:41pm PST

Holyoke ACW Crocker Mill 5/6/09 : The long vacant and structurally compromised Crocker Mill on Valley Mills Road was the scene of a small fire of unknown origin on floor 3 late in the afternoon of April 6, 2009. Companies arrived on scene to find a small fire burning on floor 3 Delta side with almost no way to easily access the fire. After a quick shot from Engine 1's deck gun, the bulk of the fire was darkened down but it still required companies to hand jack a 5 inch supply into the building and wye off 2 attack lines to the fire floor and perform extensive overhaul.

Holyoke ACW Crocker Mill 5/6/09

The long vacant and structurally compromised Crocker Mill on Valley Mi ...

Updated: May 06, 2009 9:23pm PST

Western Mass. Fire Apparatus : A new gallery that I will update periodically. I will use this gallery to showcase fire apparatus from my area.

Western Mass. Fire Apparatus

A new gallery that I will update periodically. I will use this gallery ...

Updated: May 03, 2009 11:33pm PST

West Springfield W/F 45 Prospect Avenue 5/4/09 : After a 2 week dry spell, i finally caught a structure fire on the evening/early morning of April 4, 2009. This job came in in my hometown of West Springfield which is an entirely seperate city from Springfield. WSFD consists of 3 engine companies, 1 one man ladder and 2 ALS/BLS ambulances running out of 3 stations. The fire was at 45 Prospect Ave. First due Engine 3 reported they had a 2 story wood frame duplex with smoke showing from the 1st floor A side and were stretching. The fire, which originated in the basement of the left hand unit, gained a foot hold on the first floor before being knocked by Engine 3's attack line. Command held all companies on scene for an hour for extensive overhaul of the unit.

West Springfield W/F 45 Prospect Avenue 5/4/09

After a 2 week dry spell, i finally caught a structure fire on the eve ...

Updated: May 03, 2009 11:30pm PST

Western Mass. vacants : I decided to start this gallery, not to depress people, but to serve as a training aid, and get members to get out in their own first due areas, look for vacant buildings, find where they are, what's around them, how to get to them and into them in an emergency and most importantly, get out of them alive.

Western Mass. vacants

I decided to start this gallery, not to depress people, but to serve a ...

Updated: May 02, 2009 8:57pm PST

Springfield W/F 147 Mill brook Road 4/17/09 : The tones hit for this job just after midnight on Friday April 17th. The house is in the City of Springfield's 16 acres neighborhood which is not easily accessable. The fire started on the front porch of this single story ranch and gained access to the interior doing significant damage and rendering the occupants temporarily homeless.

Springfield W/F 147 Mill brook Road 4/17/09

The tones hit for this job just after midnight on Friday April 17th. T ...

Updated: Apr 16, 2009 10:55pm PST

Springfield W/F 109 Johnson St. 3/7/09 : This job came in in the afternoon of March 7th. I had the pleasure of taking this job in with fellow photographers, Scott LaPrade, Mikey LaPrade, Ken LaBelle, Dave Mowry, Dave Cinq-Mars, and Eric Moreau. The fire occured in an occupied 3 story wood frame dwelling. Originating in the basement the fire extended to the first floor before being cut off by SFD companies. The fire was under control within 20 minutes.

Springfield W/F 109 Johnson St. 3/7/09

This job came in in the afternoon of March 7th. I had the pleasure of ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 10:20am PST

Springfield W/F 350 Walnut St. 3/6/09 : I arrived first due with the SFD to this job. 350 Walnut St. was a vacant mixed use buiding, single story taxpayer on the A side with an attached 2 story wood frame dwelling to the rear. Upon arrival, heavy smoke was pushing from all sides of the structure. Crews were hampered entering the building due to multiple security measures taken by the previous tenants. Once the second floor flashed over, command ordered all companies out and to switch to an exterior/defensive attack. The cause of the fire was deemed suspicous by the SFD Arson Squad and is under investigation.

Springfield W/F 350 Walnut St. 3/6/09

I arrived first due with the SFD to this job. 350 Walnut St. was a vac ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 10:16am PST

West Springfield worker + special call 191 Baldwin St. : Another late Febraury job. This time in the city of West Springfield. 191 Baldwin St. was an occupied multi-family dwelling. WSFD crews responded shortly after midnight to a reported fire on the second floor. Companies arrived on scene to find heavy fire venting from the A side floor 2 of one unit and extending vertically to the cockloft. The fire eventually damaged or destroyed 6 units in the building. In all 20 families were displaced.

West Springfield worker + special call 191 Baldwin St.

Another late Febraury job. This time in the city of West Springfield. ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 9:26am PST

Springfield 2nd Alarm 169 Paridon St. : This 2 alarm fire occured late in February at 169 Paridon St. The fire, in a section of the former Diamond Match Factory destroyed one building. Thanks to quick work by SFD companies, the fire was contained to the building of origin.

Springfield 2nd Alarm 169 Paridon St.

This 2 alarm fire occured late in February at 169 Paridon St. The fire ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 8:46am PST

Springfield 535 Union St. W/F 2/27/09 : Companies were dispatched to 533-535 Union St. shortly before 11 a.m. on Friday Feb. 27th for the possible structure fire. Upon arrival A group personnel found a 2 and a 1/2 story wood frame OMD with heavy fire venting from the D side 2nd floor and extending vertically. Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack only to be driven out by detriorating conditions 15 minutes into the job. Companies switched to an aggressive exterior attack utilizing several hand lines to knock down the bulk of the fire and were allowed to re-enter the building 15 minutes after the switch. The house was deemed a total loss and has been condemed.

Springfield 535 Union St. W/F 2/27/09

Companies were dispatched to 533-535 Union St. shortly before 11 a.m. ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 8:12am PST

Springfield 139 Bowles St. W/F 2/5/09 : This job came in around 11 a.m. on February 5th. A worker fire assignment was sent to 139 Bowles street for the possible structure fire. Upon arrival, first due companies found an occupied 2 1/2 story wood frame dwelling with heavy fire auto venting on the B side first floor of the structure and traveling up the exterior. The fire gained a foot hold in the attic but thanks to quick work by Springfield companies, the fire was knocked down within 20 minutes.

Springfield 139 Bowles St. W/F 2/5/09

This job came in around 11 a.m. on February 5th. A worker fire assignm ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 7:50am PST

Springfield 2905 Main St. W/F 2/1/09 : This job came in early in the morning of February 1, 2009. The ambient air temperature at the time of the fire was in the single digits which, of course, complicated the fire fight. The house, 2905-2907 Main Street in Springfield's north end was a 2 and a half story wood frame OMD. The building was deemed a total loss and is slated for demolition sometime in 2009.

Springfield 2905 Main St. W/F 2/1/09

This job came in early in the morning of February 1, 2009. The ambient ...

Updated: Mar 31, 2009 10:27pm PST

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