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MVA w/Entrapment Suitland Parkway And Firth Sterling Ave

September 8, 2007...Alan Etter

About 2300 hrs on Saturday night – 9/8 – units responded for the MVA with entrapment at Suitland Parkway and Firth Sterling Ave.

Units found a two vehicle accident; one vehicle was police cruiser. The driver of the civilian vehicle was trapped and was extricated by Rescue Squad 1.

Both patients were transported to local hospitals for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. Photos By Elliott J. Goodman

Early Morning Bldg. Fire In N.E.

September 13 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

The morning rush hour routine was interrupted Thursday, September 13, as D.C. firefighters battled a blaze in the H Street N.E. corridor area.

A box alarm was sounded around 6:15 AM for a building fire at 14th Street and Maryland Avenue. N.E. Units arrived to find heavy fire erupting from a one story, two bay, commercial garage.

The Working Fire Dispatch was sounded as firefighters began to wage an aggressive interior attack against the flames. The blaze was successfully knocked down with no injuries.

Photos Courtesy of Jarrid Gaston F.F.A.

Apartment Fire #13 Temple Ct. N.W.

September 12 ,2007... Alan Etter

Units responded at 8:19 PM with Battalion 6 for the report of the apartment fire in the 1000 block of North Capitol Street, Northwest.

First arriving units found heavy fire showing from the third floor of a three-story townhouse at #13 Temple Court. The fire occurred in the Temple Courts public housing complex. Mounting an aggressive interior attack, the fire was brought under control very quickly with no injuries.

There were several people, including six children, in the apartment. Everyone was able to get out prior to the arrival of the fire department. Nine people were displaced. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

9-11-07

Engine 15, Squad 3, Battalion 3 pay respects to Fallen Brothers that gave their lives 6 years ago today.

Photo by: Chuck Ryan

Van Fire In the 3rd Street Tunnel

September 10, 2007...Alan Etter

A Local Alarm was struck for a truck on fire in the 3rd Street Tunnel, unknown direction; Engine 6 and Truck 4 responded southbound; Engine 7 and Truck 10 respond northbound; Engine 16 responded as water supply (2-piece company), along with Air Unit 1 and Battalion 6.

Due to hydrants being out of service the day of the alarm, the DCFD was using an enhanced assignment of three engines, two trucks, an air unit and chief for vehicle fires in the downtown tunnels. Luckily, the van in question was up on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway near an exit for the 3rd St. tunnel and not in the tunnel itself.

Members encountered exploding nail gun ammunition and a white-blazing magnesium instrument panel, common to newer GMC Savana and Chevy Express vans. Foam Unit 1 was called for its 1,000 gallons of water rather than block traffic lanes with hose lines. Engines 6, 7, and Truck 4 handled.

Hazmat Incident At German Embassy

September 6 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

D.C. Hazmat teams had quite a busy day on Wednesday, September 6th, as they were kept running on a series of incidents.

One of the more involved events took place at the German Embassy on Reservoir Road N.W. A suspicious item of mail initially brought a bomb threat assignment. The Special Operations Battalion requested the hazmat task force when the nature of the incident became apparent.

Due to a potential biological threat, a decon area was established, and D.C. firefighters from the hazmat unit, accompanied by Metropolitan

Police SOOD personnel, made entry. The package was eventually properly identified and declared safe.

While all of this was taking place, another full hazmat response was required for a potential chemical threat at a Holiday Inn on New Jersey Avenue N.W. Naval district F.D. hazmat responded on this assignment, and was joined by the D.C. team after they cleared the embassy site. That incident involved an extended operation, but the threat proved unfounded.

Pictured above are Probationary Firefighter Kristin Crowley and Paramedic Supervisor Larry Lantz applying oxygen masks, fully reviving Nyla and Joe.

Fire & EMS Crews Revive Cats After Basement Fire

September 5 ,2007... Alan Etter

Units responded at 2:31 PM for the house fire, reported to be in the 6100 block of Blair Road, Northwest. First arriving units found smoke coming from a two-story brick single family home located at 6116 Blair Rd. When firefighters made their way into the basement, they found a raging fire that threatened to spread to the upper floors. Through aggressive fire suppression, the blaze was contained quickly with minimal extension.

During the operation, members of Engine 24 located two Siamese cats in the basement. One was unconscious and struggling to breathe, the other was semi-conscious with labored respiration. Both animals were removed from the basement where Fire & EMS personnel applied oxygen therapy. Both cats, three-year-old Nyla and two-year-old Joe, responded to the oxygen, were fully revived within 30 minutes and returned to their grateful owners.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There were no injuries to either civilians or firefighters.

I just wanted to say thank you for putting a sincere effort into rescuing two cats today from the fire in the brick home in Northwest. I just read the news about it and it was the first uplifting story I've read all day. I'm sure there's somebody out there who is wondering why you wasted your time on two cats, but I appreciate that two firefighters rescued two living creatures whether they were humans, cats, dogs, birds, whatever. Thank you and great job! I'm glad you all came out of the fire safely.

Heidi Myers

Alexandria, Virginia

Dump Truck Loses Brakes In Anacostia

August 30 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

A dump truck that lost its brakes and careened out of control left a path of destruction in Anacostia on Thursday, August 30th.

Miraculously, only the truck driver suffered minor injuries, Despite the fact that the accident occurred at the busy intersection of King Avenue
and Chicago Street S.E. during rush hour.

The vehicle's brakes apparently failed as it came down the steep incline on Morris Road. Picking up speed, it roared thru an intersection normally filled with traffic and pedestrians, striking only one car who's occupant saw it coming and lept to safety. The truck driver also jumped for his life from his cab.

Amazingly, the vehicle continued forward at high speed into an alley, narrowly missing adjacent buildings, but striking at least one parked car and ripping down a heavy wrought iron fence and other obstacles. Continuing to crush the cars previously in its path, it than struck and demolished a large shed and overturned a few feet from several homes.

Despite the swath of destruction that included the shed and three vehicles, there was no damage to any occupied structures. A search of
the debris proved negative, but firefighters did have to contend with the truck's leaking diesel saddle tank. A full cave-in assignment was dispatched to the scene.

Pin Job N. Capitol & Florida Ave.

August 28 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

A woman had to be extricated after overturning her vehicle in the Shaw neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, August 28th.

Firefighters arrived at North Capital Street and Florida Avenue around 3 PM to find one vehicle on its side with a person still inside. Rescue Squad 1 removed the roof in order to safely access and free the trapped patient.

She was transported by EMS to a local trauma center.

Metro Tunnel Boxes Keep Firefighters Busy

August 26 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

It was a frantic evening for D.C. firefighters as a series of incidents in the Metro subway system sent them racing from station to station on Sunday, August 26th.

The first incident began shortly before 6 PM as a metro tunnel box for smoke between the Mt. Vernon and Shaw-Cardozo stations. Units entered the tunnel to find a smoldering insulator, and quickly controlled the situation.

About an hour later, another tunnel box was dispatched for smoke between the Farragut North and Dupont Circle stations on the Red Line. Firefighters found a moderate smoke condition in the Farragut North station, and eventually encountered a burning insulator in the tunnel to the north. It was quickly extinguished.

As some companies were still operating at this box, another call was received for smoke on a train at the Farragut West station. Firefighters there investigated an odor of smoke in several subway cars, but could find no active fire.

All units were still committed to this call when yet another box was sounded for smoke in the station at Foggy Bottom. Arlington County also dispatched an assignment for their end of the tunnel, and both jurisdictions coordinated their efforts. The source of that smoke condition was never determined.

Firefighters Remove Resident From N.W. Apartment Fire

August 26 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

D.C. firefighters battled a hot and smokey blaze in a Fourth Battalion apartment building on Sunday afternoon, August 26th.

Units responding on a box alarm found heavy smoke pushing from the basement of the three story, occupied apartment building at 5509 9th Street N.W. A Working Fire Dispatch was quickly sounded.

There was heavy fire involving a large room, with some initial access problems. The entire building was also filled with dense, acrid smoke, requiring an extensive primary and secondary search of all apartments. One occupant was found in the basement and removed into the hands of EMS for treatment.

The fire did extend into a first floor apartment via the walls before finally being declared under control.

Firefighters Remove Child From Smoke Filled Townhouse

August 23 ,2007

Dispatched for the house fire shortly after 21:00 hours at 89 K St. Northwest.

Firefighters found light smoking coming from this two-story apartment style townhouse. A small fire was found and quickly extinguished on the first floor. The home was charged with light smoke on the first and second floors.

Firefighters quickly searched the house and removed a small child to safety from a second floor bedroom.

Box: Engines 3-2-16-10-13, Truck 4, Tower 3, BFC 6 & Squad 1.

Apartment Fire In Upper Northwest

August 23 ,2007... Story & Photos By Alan Etter

A 911 call from an apartment building at 5616 13^th Street, NW brought a box and working fire dispatch at 4:18 PM on August 23^rd. When first responders arrived, they found heavy smoke on three levels of the four-story, brick building.

Quick work on the interior brought the fire under control within 40 minutes – with no injuries to either civilians or firefighters. The cause of this fire, which caused $150,000 in damage, is electrical in nature.

MVA 295 @ South Capitol St.

August 22 ,2007... Story & Photos By Alan Etter

Battalion 3 units responded at 4:10 PM on August 22^nd for the report of the motor vehicle accident at I-295 and South Capitol Street.

Truck 8 and Ambulance 25 found the accident South bound on I-295 – a badly damaged passenger car with at least one seriously injured patient. No one was trapped, but firefighters and EMS providers set to work treating two injured people.

One woman, the driver of the vehicle, sustained a potentially serious head injury. A young female passenger was also transported for observation. MPD was investigating.

Crane & Stokes Rescue 900 11th Street, NW

August 21 ,2007... Story & Photos By Alan Etter

DC Fire & EMS responded at 7:58 AM for what was initially described as a confined space rescue. When units arrived, they found two construction workers who had been injured by a falling steel beam.

The beam was being lowered by a crane into the open construction pit when it broke free and fell a short distance, striking one man in the head and the other across the back. Both men then fell off a ladder on which they were working and fell 10 feet onto other construction materials.

Utilizing two rescue squads, the special operations division coordinated a crane and stokes rescue of both patients. Both men were secured in a stokes basket – then, using an on-scene crane, raised up to the street level, where they were treated and then transported to GW Hospital. Their injuries were thought to be serious but not life-threatening. OSHA was investigating the accident.

Lightning Sparks Second Alarm House Fire

August 20 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

An apparent lightning strike ignited a ferocious blaze that severely damaged a Spring Valley townhouse on Monday morning, August 20th.

Firefighters recall hearing a fearsome thunderclap that shook their quarters not long before the box alarm was sounded for 5316 McArthur Boulevard N.W. They arrived to find flames engulfing the attic of the two-story townhome, as well as posing a threat to attached exposures. A second alarm was sounded to help deal with the dire conditions.

Numerous handlines were brought into play to fight the fire and protect exposures. The blaze was extinguished without injuries, but not before
the roof was almost completely burned away. The rest of the home was also heavily damaged.

Adult Male Rescued From Burning Shaw Apartment

August 18 ,2007... Story & Photos By Alan Etter

Fire & EMS responded at 11:41 AM for the apartment fire with reports of people trapped – 801 Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke showing from the top floor of the eight-story building. They also saw an adult male hanging from the window on side “A”. Tower 3 positioned their ladder to the eighth floor. Firefighters Brian McAllister and Harry Saval secured the patient and began treatment as the platform was lowered to the street. There, the 38-year-old patient was transferred to the care of EMS and was transported to the Washington Hospital Center. His injuries were described as critical, with third degree burns to 75% of his body. He also suffered severe smoke inhalation and tracheal burns.

Fire suppression units were able to extinguish the fire quickly. One firefighter was transported after overexerting himself on the fireground. He was treated and released.

Box Alarm- E9-12-16-11-1, T4, TL3, BFC6, RS2

WFD- E21, T6, BFC1, Air1, Safety Officer, Deputy Fire Chief

Related video from YouTube (warning of graphic pictures and language

Additional Photos Courtesy of Jarrid Gaston F.F.A.

Basement Fire In N.E. Rowhouse

August 18 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

While D.C. firefighters were battling the second alarm blaze at 801 Rhode Island Avenue N.W. on Saturday, August 18th, other units had their hands filled with a basement fire at 3337 Clay Street N.E.

Responding on a box alarm sounded minutes before the Rhode Island Avenue call was dispatched, companies arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the two story row dwelling.

A Working Fire Dispatch was sounded, but the flames were contained to the basement area. There were no injuries.

Person Struck By Train In Petworth

August 16 ,2007... Vito Maggiolo

A woman is extremely lucky to be alive after either falling or jumping in front of a metro train at the Petworth station on Thursday, August 16th.

Firefighters responding on the Metro rescue assignment to Georgia and New Hampshire Avenues were astounded to find that the victim was virtually untouched, even though four cars had passed over her before the train could be halted.

She was removed from under the train and, due to possible mechanism injuries, was transported to a local trauma center.

Apartment Fire In The Third Battalion

August 10 ,2007... Alan Etter

Units responded with Battalion 3 at 12:38 PM on August 10th for the report of an apartment fire in the 300 block of Parkland Place, Southeast – just off Malcom X. Avenue.

Engine 25 arrived first to find fire showing from side “B” of the two story apartment building located at 357 Parkland Pl. S.E.. A fast entry found two rooms off on the first floor with some extension to the second. The fire was extinguished quickly with no injuries to either civilians or firefighters. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Two Firefighters Sustained Minor Injuries At N.W. House Fire

August 10 ,2007... Alan Etter

Units responded with Battalion 4 at 3:01 AM for the report of fire coming from the basement of the rowhouse in the 400 block of Newton Pl., NW.

Engine 11 and Truck 6 arrived to find heavy smoke in the block and heavy fire in the basement of 447 Newton Place. Firefighters mounted an aggressive interior attack and knocked the fire down quickly with no injuries to civilians. Unfortunately, two firefighters suffered first and second degree burns, Engine 11's lineman sustained 2nd degree burns to knees, wrist, ears and forehead. Engine 9's lineman sustained 2nd degree burns to one foot.

Both were transported to the Washington Hospital Center where they were treated and released. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Box Alarm: E-11-9-4-24-14, T-6 & 9 ,BFC4, RS-2.

Garage And Auto Fully Involved On Arrival

August 9,2007... Alan Etter

A fully involved garage brought a Box and working fire dispatch to an area around 4^th and Peabody Streets, Northwest Thursday morning.

Units responded with Battalion 4 at 11:38 AM for what was reported to be a garage on fire. Engine 24 arrived first to find heavy fire that had consumed a 12’X24’ garage, a vehicle parked outside, and a fence surrounding the structure.

Though the blazing fire gutted the small structure, and destroyed an auto parked outside, there were no injuries. The cause is under investigation.

High-Angle Rescue

August 3,2007... Alan Etter

An approximately 35 year old crane operator had a medical episode while operating the machine 30 feet above the 12th floor of a building under construction - 1050 15th St., NW.

Fire & EMS responded at 10:46 AM with a high-angle rescue operation that resulted in the approximately 350 pound man being secured in a stokes basket and lowered to the ground, where he was treated by EMS and transported to a hospital for further treatment. His condition was said to be serious but not life-threatening.

FEMS utilized Rescue Squads 1 and 3 along with Engine 16 & Tower 3 to coordinate a rope and pulley system adequate to lower the man to the ground. The nature of his medical emergency was unknown.

Rowhouse Fire 610 Orleans Place N.E.

July 30,2007... Alan Etter

Units responded with Battalion 1 at 10:14 AM for the house fire with a report of a person trapped in the 600 block of Orleans Place, Northeast.

First arriving firefighters found smoke showing from the two-story rowhouse. Although all the people were out of the home at 610 Orleans

Place, an unconscious dog was located in a bedroom on the second floor. The animal was removed by firefighters, and efforts to revive it were unsuccessful. EMS evaluated and treated an adult female on the scene, but she was not transported to the hospital. The Red Cross and EMA were notified about six residents who would be displaced.

Engine 10 With Heavy Fire Showing in N.E.

July 26,2007... John Mullen

Units were dispatched with Battalion 2 at 20:37 hours for a reported building on fire at 7th & H St's N.E

Engine 10 went on the scene with heavy fire showing from side "c" of a two-story commercial building. The initial attack was slowed as firefighters from Trucks 13, 7, 4 and Squad 1 had to cut bars off doors and windows to gain entry.

The fire which consumed much of the second floor was quickly handled once firefighters gained entry. There were no injures reported and the fire is under investigation.

Box: Engines 3-10-18-6-2, Trucks 13 & 7, BFC 2, Squad 1.

Working Fire: E-8, T-4, BFC 1, SAFO, Air 2, DCO, A-8, Car 43, EMS 3.

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