Units responded at 1:25 PM for the reported house fire in the 2700 block of Cathedral Avenue, Northwest near Connecticut Avenue. Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the roofline in the middle of the block with some fire showing from the roof in the rear.
A quick interior operation extinguished the visible fire, but work had to be done to find latent fire crawling along the attic lines. It was clear the fire had extended along the roofline to more than just the point of origin. A quick roof operation stopped the fire before it could spread to a second exposure building, despite windy conditions which threatened to exacerbate the fire.
It was learned that a construction project was being done on the house where the fire started. Officially, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. One construction worker suffered a laceration to his arm, but he refused transport to the hospital.
Dispatched at 11:45 AM, firefighters found a one story single family home with heavy fire showing on arrival. A fast interior operation had to be withdrawn, given the volume of fire and the fact the structure was compromised.
After an exterior operation, firefighters could then return to the interior to finish the job. One firefighter was later transported with what was called a minor injury. The preliminary cause of the fire is accidental, but the incident remains under investigation. Two adults and two children were displaced.
Building Collapse 600 Block 15th Street N.E.
January 30, 2008 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO
As the second alarm was being sounded for 4900 Hayes St., NE, Special Operations was being dispatched for the building collapse in the 600 block of 15th Street, NE. First arriving units found a two story end of the row unit that had lost a portion of sides A and D. The collapsing structure sent debris out into the street. No one was injured, and DCRA was investigating the cause.
We Regret to Inform You of the Death of Retired Firefighter Kenneth T. Buckley
Kenneth T. Buckley was Appointed 7-1-50 E-18, Retired 3-1-73 T-12 passed away January 29,2008.
Viewing Thursday January 31,2008 3-8 P.M. at Howell Funeral Home 10220 Guilford Rd. Jessup, Md. 20794. Funeral service Friday February 1, 2008 10:30 A.M. at the funeral home. Internment to follow at Fort Lincoln Cemetery 3401 Bladensburg Rd. Brentwood Md.
Fire in the Basement at 1415 Rittenhouse Street N.W.
January 28, 2008 by Vito Maggiolo
Another busy night for D.C. firefighters, as units in the Fourth Battalion battled the first of several working fire dispatches during the evening and overnight hours Tuesday, January 28th.
This first blaze took place around 9:30 P.M. in a two story, occupied brick duplex at 1415 Rittenhouse Street N.W. Box alarm units searching for the source of a smoke condition found fire in the basement. A working fire dispatch was than sounded, but the flames were quickly brought under control without injury.
As the night progressed, there was a working fire dispatch for a blaze on the second floor of 1229 17th Street N.E. After midnight, two additional fires tool place at 3936 Clay street N.E., and 1030 29th Street N.W. The Clay Street incident involved a two story house with fire first floor, and 29th Street had fire on the second floor of a two story row.
The continuing saga of non-stop multiple alarms in the city had another chapter added to it on Sunday, January 27th as fire ripped through three homes on King Avenue S.E.
Firefighters arrived at 3343 King Avenue at approximately 7:40 P.M. to find an unoccupied, two story frame dwelling completely engulfed, and flames already extending to other frame houses on both the B and D exposures. A working fire dispatch and 2nd alarm were immediately requested.
The intensity of the fire forced an exterior attack, and units flanked the blaze in order to prevent even further spread to additional homes. This effort was successful, but all three original dwellings involved were severely damaged.
Searches proved negative, and there were no reported injuries.
The rash of major fires to hit the District continued unabated this week as a fourth alarm equivalent blaze gutted an apartment building in Northwest Washington.
The latest incident erupted around 10:30 on the evening of Friday, January 25th, in a vacant building at 5408 1st Place N.W. Firefighters arrived at this 200x100 two story structure to find a large potion of the first and second floors in the rear well involved.
An aggressive interior attack was initiated, and firefighters battled the flames inside for a considerable amount of time before a sagging roof and continuing spread of the fire forced them to abandon the building. A second alarm was sounded.
After the structure was evacuated, an outside attack was mounted using Tower 3, two ladder pipes, and a barrage of streams from portable turret guns. The need for numerous master streams led to continuing special calls, resulting in 18 engines and 9 trucks being called to the scene at one point. Mutual aid units from Montgomery and Prince Georges County Maryland were among those assisting at the scene.
It took several hours before the blaze was contained. During the battle, one firefighter suffered chest pains and another was struck in the face with a master stream, resulting in both being taken to area hospitals.
Engine 6 and Truck 4 were initially dispatched on the automatic fire alarm to 401 K Street N.W., a nine story, occupied apartment structure. The box was filled upon report of heavy smoke on the sixth floor.
Fire was located in the sixth floor trash room, and quickly extinguished. It than became a task of clearing considerable smoke from the building.
One resident was treated on the scene by EMS personnel.
Units responded at 8:56 AM for the report of the building on fire in the 1800 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast. Smoke was evident as firefighters approached the small bakery at that location. Quickly inside the two-story building, firefighters located a fire in the oven that had extended to a wall and ceiling. The fire, despite cluttered conditions inside, was extinguished quickly with no injuries reported.
Ice Rescue Drill
Special Operations Battalion' Ice Rescue Drill that were done on all 4 Platoons during the week of January 14-17, 2008. Click to Read More.....
Units responded at 1:33 AM for what was first reported to be a building fire at 4209 Dix Street, Northeast. When units rolled into the block, they found a great deal of debris in the street and in the trees and power lines in front of the three-story brick apartment building – but no fire.
It was clear a natural gas explosion had occurred, evidenced by the strong odor of product outside the structure. Cautiously, firefighters assessed the building and conducted a search for possible victims. Three occupants had already exited the building and were not injured.
A Cave-in Task Force was dispatched to examine the building. It was found that side D was bowed and had sustained a serious crack. A safe perimeter was established, and the scene was turned over to DCRA for further action.
A tenacious fire that defied the efforts of an interior attack gutted a night club in the Glover Park neighborhood on Tuesday, January 22nd.
Firefighters arrived at J.P.’s lounge at 2412 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. around 3:30 A.M. They found heavy smoke conditions in the two story, tightly secured commercial building, with the establishment’s owner trapped on the roof.
The owner was removed to safety by Rescue Squad 1, and a search began for the seat of the fire. Flames were eventually found in a room behind the bar area, but by that time, the blaze had spread both horizontally and vertically, fed in part by a natural gas line.
The fire eventually burst through the roof, and all firefighters were than evacuated and an exterior attack brought into play. Two ladder pipes and other master streams and outside hand lines were finally able to subdue the blaze.
Units responded at 1:29 PM for the report of the building on fire at 12th Street & Florida Avenue, Northeast. First responders found smoke and some fire evident from the three story auto supply store.
An initial entry had to be withdrawn after an explosion caused the fire to gain in intensity. At this point fire was present on each level of the business called Jimmy’s Tire Shop, and evacuation tones were sounded. A heavy duty exterior operation began with at least three ladder pipes delivering tens of thousands of gallons of water to the flames.
After more than four hours of continuous water supply, the fire was declared under control; however firefighters were expected to be present through the night to watch for any flare ups. One firefighter was transported with what was described a minor injury. The cause was under investigation.
I flew over in a helicopter and took some shots ---
Captain Ed Sims Retires
January 18, 2008 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO
A celebration luncheon was held last week to honor the career of Capt. Ed Sims, who retired this month.
Sims, who has worked the past two years at PSO, is retiring after 29 years on the job. He was presented with a drawing of Engine 24, a place he called his ‘home away from home’.
A very smoky situation awaited firefighters as they responded to this two-story house at 8:25 AM. Dispatched for the house on fire, first arriving units found heavy smoke coming from the roof at 4521 29th Street, Northwest. A fast operation found and extinguished the fire with no injuries. A cause was still being determined.
Lt. Steve Von Briesen Jumps Into The Frigid Washington Channel to Rescue a Female Victim
Audio
January 17, 2008 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO
Lt. Steve VonBriesen is credited with jumping into the frigid Washington Channel early today and saving the life of a woman, who tells investigators she was pushed into the water.
Dispatched at 12:04 AM for the water rescue, fire and MPD harbor crews responded in force to conduct a surface search. At least two 911 calls were placed reporting a woman in the water. After a brief search, the crew of Fireboat 2 located the woman floating in the South Channel near East Potomac Park. As the vessel approached the woman quickly but cautiously, Lt. VonBriesen jumped in, secured the woman and lifted her aboard the Fireboat.
She was then transferred to land-based units at East Potomac Park, where warming techniques were applied. She was transported via US Park Police medevac to MedStar, where her condition was listed as stable this morning.
January 13, 2008 by Alan Etter, Additional Pictures by Vito Maggiolo
Units responded with Battalion 4 and the Special Operations Battalion Chief at 4:20 AM for the report of the rowhouse on fire in the 1000 block of Kenyon Street, Northwest. First arriving companies found heavy fire on both floors of the two story rowhouse. It was clear the fire had already extended to exposure buildings on either side of the fire building, and a 2nd alarm was quickly transmitted.
The initial dispatch reported people trapped, but the three occupants of the house on fire were able to escape safely. An aggressive interior attack brought the fire under control within 45 minutes. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated and released from a local hospital. EMS treated a young child for mild smoke inhalation, and the youngster was not transported to the hospital.
It was learned that utilities were discontinued to the building some time ago, but three people were living in the house anyway. The Fire Marshal determined the cause of the fire was accidental, the result of the improper disposal of smoking materials. Ten people were displaced. A damage estimate was placed at $150,000.
2008 Toys For Toys Campaign Final Totals
THE RECENT DELIVERY OF TOYS TO CHILDRENS NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE US MARINES. THE PICURES DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE, BECAUSE WE FILLED THE ATRIUM UP WITH TOYS.
A small but smoky blaze brought a box alarm assignment to Children’s Hospital on Sunday evening, January 13th.
Engine 9 and truck 6 were initially dispatched on an automatic fire alarm to the facility at 111 Michigan Avenue N.W. While they were en route, the box was filled for a report of fire in a first floor storage area.
Units arrived with smoke showing from the loading dock, and found fire in a commercial dryer. Although the flames were quickly contained, there was considerable smoke in a large area.
Fortunately, no patient areas were affected, and the incident was brought under control in fairly short order.
Polar Bear Plunge Fundraising Party
January 19th - Mark your calandars! The DCFD Polar Bear Plunge TEAM will be hosting a party to raise money for Special Olympics!
A 90 year old woman and her 50 year old daughter are dead following a fierce blaze in their Northwest home on Friday morning, January 11th.
Firefighters dispatched around 2:15 A.M. found heavy fire in the basement and first floor of the two story row home at 5610 Kansas Avenue N.W. The flames were so intense that the first floor was already collapsing.
A second alarm was sounded as the blaze spread to the 2nd floor and attic, as well as into the attached exposures. As firefighters mounted an interior attack, they discovered the bodies of both victims within the house, already deceased.
One firefighter suffered injuries during the battle to contain the fire. The cause is under investigation.
Palisades Picnic Held on October 12, 2007
Palisades Community Cookout hosted each fall by Engine 29/Truck 5. Food provided by DCFD Firefighting BBQ Team and community members.
D.C. suffered its first fire fatality of the new year when a woman was found dead in her blazing apartment in upper Northwest.
The fire erupted around 10:15 on Saturday morning, January 5th, on the 6th floor of a multi-story apartment building at 3001 Van Ness Street. N.W.
Firefighters from a box and working fire dispatch assignment were able to contain the flames to the one apartment, but found the victim deceased within.
There were no other reported injuries. The fire is under investigation, but is not believed to be suspicious.
Associate Director James Jeng, left, and Director Marion Jordan of the Washington Hospital Center Burn Center accept a $60,000 check from Jason Woods, Kenneth Crosswhite and James DiGregory of the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation. The money will be used to refurbish the center's rehabilitation gym. (By Mark Gail -- The Washington Post)
Thursday, January 3, 2008; Page DZ01 by Elissa Silverman Washington Post Staff Writer
A smoky blaze at Union Station forced hundreds of travelers and other visitors to flee the building on the first day of the New Year.
Firefighters responding on a box alarm around 3:30 P.M. found a blaze involving a frying machine in the lower level food court. Although the flames were quickly extinguished, the fire filled the immense open space with smoke, which also filtered to the floors above.
As a result, the entire structure was evacuated until the smoke conditions were cleared, which also resulted in Amtrak train delays.There were no reported injuries.
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