Circa 2004, Members of "The Hornets Nest" Engine 4 Proudly Displaying Rich DCFD Tradition
D.C. Fire Chief Feels Protest Heat
January 25, 2012: Story By Barbara Salisbury / The Washington Times
Photos By Elliot J Goodman
As Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe on Tuesday touted the D.C. fire department’s accomplishments during his first year as its leader, firefighters and emergency medical services workers had a message for him: They want better leadership.
Approximately 100 firefighters stood in unison, turned their backs and, chanting “DCFD,” walked out of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest after Chief Ellerbe finished his “State of the Department” address and opened the floor to questions.
The DCFD chant referred to an ongoing controversy over a uniform logo that Chief Ellerbe elected to replace — one point of contention among employees of the 2,000-member department who voiced concern about the out-of-pocket costs they have to pay to comply with uniform changes. But the complaints went deeper than just the uniforms.
“We have zero confidence in his ability to lead this department,” 12-year-veteran firefighter Lt. Robert Alvarado said outside the library after the address.
Firefighters complained about a hostile work environment under Chief Ellerbe and criticized policies he has proposed, such as a shift change that would drastically alter employees work hours.
“He needs to be focused on recruiting and retaining paramedics and rebuilding the apparatus fleet,” Lt. Alvarado said.
Other firefighters, who declined to give their names due to fear of retaliation, said the chief is too focused on “peripheral issues” such as the uniform changes.
“We have zero career development,” an 11-year veteran of the department said. “We are flying by the seat of our pants.”
Another 19-year veteran of the department said weekly in-service training of employees has ceased and as a result newer employees are not properly prepared.
During his address, Chief Ellerbe touted high points for the department, including several new apparatus purchases and the department’s quick response times. Response times to emergency calls for first-due companies run at an average of less than two minutes, and 98 percent of calls are responded to in less than six minutes, he said.
The chief also voiced continued support of a pilot program started over the summer that placed firefighters on high-crime corners throughout the city as they waited for calls. The extra eyes helped reduce crime, he said.
“We don’t fight crime. We’re not crime fighters but we can be good witnesses,” Chief Ellerbe said.
The other advantage of the “soft posting” was increased visibility among firefighters in the community, a tactic Chief Ellerbe said he hopes will draw favor from residents during upcoming budget talks.
“Only 25 percent of our members live in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “The city needs to know who our firefighters are.”
DC Firefighters Protest Chiefs Proposed Work Schedule, Walk Out On Chief During State Of Department Address
1/24/12
Kenneth Ellerbe had opened the floor for questions when approximately 100 firefighters stood to attention and then walked out of the room.
As many of you know, Firefighter-Technician Dennis Mills (T-3-1) was hospitalized Sunday evening with a serious medical condition and is currently at Washington Hospital Center. To help ease the stress on him, his family, and his coworkers, trades are being set up for assistance. While he has respectable leave balances, we’d like to keep it that way. When working for DJ, all meals will be paid for, all attempts will be made to keep the trade in quarters and the trade will not sit a watch.
Any questions, please call any of the following:
Justin Allen (T-3-4)
Chris Moore (E-16-2)
Tommy Keelan (E-16-3)
Tim Bennett (E-16-1)
Christopher Simpson (T-3-1)
Burn Center Contact: Lt. Steven Mills (T-3-4)
Please keep DJ in your thoughts and prayers. The members of the Midnight Express want to thank the members of DCFD for the outpouring of support. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
5010 4th Street N.W.
January 23, 2012: By Alan Etter
Units responded at approximately 10:40 AM after several callers reported heavy smoke in the area of 5th and Gallatin Street, Northwest. First arriving units discovered heavy fire in the rear of a middle of the row house in the 5000 block of 4th Street. Fire was visible from the basement with severe extension to all floors of the fire building as well as significant extension to the ‘B’ exposure.
An aggressive interior attack stopped the blaze from consuming further property. An adult male, said to be the owner of the home in which the fire started, was evaluated at the scene but was not transported. A firefighter, similarly, was evaluated for minor injuries but was not transported. Red cross was working to accommodate those displaced from two homes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Sgt. Chet Barrett Celebrates 25 Years Of Service
January 20, 2012: Story & Photos By Elliot J Goodman
Friday night January 20th, the members of Engine 10 & Truck 13 celebrated the 25th anniversary of a House of Pain "Hall of Fame" member, Sergeant Chet Barrett.
Chet spent many years at the Florida Avenue fire station which has certainly achieved the reputation as the "Busiest fire house in the Nation" for many years now, and is world famous, as Chet is. Chet was joined that evening by two other all-star alumni from the House of Pain, retired Lieutenants Leo Handley and A.J.Winterwerp.
The members of Engine 10 and Truck 13 put on a superb dinner in Chets honor. Congratulations Chet for your 25 years of proud service, and the long living tradition that will always stand for. We wish you the best on your next 25 years before retirement.
Firefighters Brave Cold Without Coat
1/21/12 WJLA.com
Firefighters Take Stand Against Latest Uniform Change
DC firefighters battled a row house fire near Howard University Hospital on Thursday afternoon, January 19th.
The blaze involved the 2nd floor of a vacant, two story row house at 333 Elm Street NW around 2:45 PM.
The incident was controlled with a box and working fire dispatch assignment.
One firefighter suffered a shoulder injury and was transported to the hospital.
Dispatcher Reflects On First Day At Work -- 1968 DC Riots
January 16, 2012: Courtesy of WUSA9.COM
Wagon Master Bert Small Celebrates 25 Years
January 15, 2012
On the evening of January 15th a group of current and retired DCFD firefighters, friends and family, gathered to honor Wagon Master Robert Small on his 25 years of service protecting the Nations Capitol.
Congratulations to you Bert, you have been a mentor to many, and a friend to all, truly a fireman's fireman !!
The Sunday morning routine was shattered for DC firefighters when fire erupted in an abandoned NE warehouse on January 15th.
The call went out shortly after 9 AM for the building at 1236 Mount Olivet Road NE. A working fire dispatch followed soon afterwards with heavy smoke showing from the one story, vacant commercial structure.
An interior attack was initiated, and the blaze was knocked down within 10 minutes, despite ventilation challenges. A search of the building proved negative.
Freezing cold weather was no deterrent to DC firefighters who rescued a victim from the waters of Rock Creek on Saturday, January 14th.
A water rescue assignment was dispatched around 1:15 AM to Rock Creek Parkway and P Street NW for a report of a person in the creek. Rescue Squad 1 was able to retrieve an individual from the frigid waters, who was then transported by a DCFD EMS unit to an area hospital.
421 Evarts Street N.E.
January 11, 2012: Story By Vito Maggiolo, Photos Courtesy of Vito Maggiolo & www.engine2rescue1.com
Flames in a Northeast apartment building brought a box and working fire dispatch to the scene Wednesday afternoon, January 11th.
The blaze erupted around 1 PM in an occupied, two story building at 421 Evarts Street NE. Firefighters encountered fire burning in the joists on the first and second floor.
It took considerable effort to expose and extinguish the large amount of hidden fire. One civilian was injured and transported to the hospital
7203 Georgia Avenue N.W.
January 4, 2012: Story By Vito Maggiolo
Flames leaping from the second floor greeted DC firefighters responding to a box alarm opposite the old Walter Reed complex on Wednesday morning, January 4th.
Dispatched around 7 AM, the blaze involved the entire second floor of a two story, detached, vacant 30x20 dwelling at 7203 Georgia Avenue NW.
The first hand line made great headway on the flames as a working fire dispatch was sounded. At one point, units were withdrawn from the structure after cracks were found in the walls of this long vacant building.
For the second time this New Year, Northeast was the scene of a working house fire Tuesday, January 3rd.
The latest working fire of 2012 broke out around 3:30 PM in a two story, middle row house at 657 F Street NE. There was smoke showing from the dwelling, and flames erupted from the first floor as firefighters gained entry.
A working fire dispatch was requested, but the blaze was knocked down almost immediately and without injuries. All searches were negative.
DC firefighters rang in the New Year by battling a fierce blaze that gutted a NE dwelling on the first morning of 2012.
A box alarm was dispatched to 635 M Street NE shortly before 10 AM, and units arrived to find both floors of the two story, middle row house engulfed in flames.
The working fire dispatch was sounded as an aggressive interior attack was initiated, and lines were stretched into both exposures, which were severely threatened.
Despite the intense fire conditions, the blaze was knocked down in a relatively short time, although the flames also extended into the cockloft. The exposures suffered only light damage.
An additional two truck companies were requested to assist with opening up and overhauling, due to the extent of fire and the large number of possessions inside. The house was occupied, although the residents were away at the time.
Just before 0530 units with the 3rd Battalion Chief were alerted for an apartment fire at 705 Chesapeake Street S.E.
First arriving units found an apartment fire on the 3rd floor of a three-story garden apartment. Engine 15 was assigned RIT duties, Rescue 3 arrived and conducted the primary and secondary search which proved negative.
Units brought the fire under control within 15 minutes and with minor extension. Command 3 held it with 2+2.
DC Generals & DC FF Burn Foundation Poster Fundraiser
