Archives- September 2007

September 28, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

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Video from Statter911,WUSA9, by Vito Maggiolo

Photos Courtesy of Elliot J. Goodman 

September 27, 2007 Story by Vito Maggiolo

Timeline by Dave Statter WUSA9 Statter 911

D.C.'s first four alarm blaze in seven years destroyed a large warehouse on Queens Chapel Road N.E. on Thursday evening, September 27th.

A box alarm assignment arrived at Coosmans, a produce firm at 2144 Queens Chapel Road, to be confronted with an ugly mass of acrid, black smoke pumping from the 200x200 one and two story commercial structure.

The building was locked up tight, forcing firefighters to put multiple saws to work, cutting open metal roll down doors and other entranceways. Once inside, an attack began with several handlines, but the deep seated heavy fire, obscured by the extraordinary heavy smoke, was too difficult to reach. The threat of a roof collapse finally forced units out of the structure.

Additional alarms were sounded as Command 1 reverted to an exterior attack, eventually utilizing Tower 3 and several ladder pipes and other master streams to pound away at the blaze.

Eventually, 19 engines and 10 trucks were operating or in the staging area, including units from the Naval District of Washington Fire Department and Prince Georges County.

It took several hours to finally bring the fire under control. Two firefighters suffered non life threatening injuries and were transported to area hospitals.

Due to the strain on the department's resources and magnitude of the blaze, the Fire Operations Center at Engine 2 was activated, and several ready reserve apparatus were staffed to supplement mutual aid units that relocated into the city.

Approximate timeline of the fire: Courtesy of Stater911

1917 Box alarm

1924 2nd alarm

1949 Special call 3 trucks, 1 engine

1955 3rd alarm

2020 By this time it was equivalent to a 4th alarm assignment

He left Georgetown University Hospital last Monday night feeling pretty good but was re-admitted for emergency surgery yesterday.  This was a complication from the earlier surgery.  The latest surgery went well, but he will probably be in the hospital another week.  Please keep Steve in your thoughts…

The D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation will be putting together a 2008 DCFD Calendar that will go on sale in late November. 

Anyone who would like to submit pictures of fire grounds, apparatus, rescues, or anything else DCFD related should email them to Doug Wheeler (E24 #4) by October 12th. 

We will chose the 12 best pictures to placed in the 2008 Calendar.  Please include as much information about the picture as you can…date, address, and box assignment, and any other information that you may have. 

The pictures can be recent or older DCFD shots.

dougwheeler@verizon.net

September 26, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

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September 22, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo and Stan Jaworski

Photos by Stan Jaworski E7

D.C. Firefighters Local 36 honored a number of their own, as well as others, at a dinner held at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, September 22nd.

What is known as the "President's Dinner" paid tribute to members of the union who retired since 2001, and also recognized the special contributions of former Local 36 president's David Ryan, Tommy Tippett, and Ray Sneed.

Joining those honorees were DCFD.com owner/administrator John Mullen and Friendship Fire Association canteen/rehab coordinator and fire photographer Vito Maggiolo. Both were presented with honorary membership in Local 36 for their activities contributing to the benefit of the local and its membership.

"Special Recognition Awards" were given to Renee McPhatter (Deputy Director - Policy, Research, & Development, Office of the Mayor), Leonard "Bud" Doggett (HEROES - Honor Every Responsible Officer's Eternal Sacrifice, Inc.).

September 25, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

DC Fire & EMS personnel responded just before 10:00 AM for the report of an unknown chemical odor inside Walker-Jones Elementary School, located in the 100 block of L Street, Northwest.  When firefighters and EMS providers arrived, they were presented with three students exhibiting minor respiratory symptoms.  They were coughing and complaining of irritation to their eyes. The entire school was evacuated.

As medics treated the initial three patients, more children began complaining of similar symptoms.  The increasing number of patients and the likelihood more children would be transported to the hospital caused FEMS commanders to declare a mass casualty incident.  DCFEMS can declare such an incident if there is a possibilty of transporting nine or more patients to the hospital.

As EMS assets were positioned at the school, the hazardous materials unit entered the building and began assessing the quality of air inside.  After a thorough evaluation, it was determined the source of the irritant was a pepper-spray like substance which seemed to be in highest concentration on the third floor.

In all, 14 students were treated by EMS professionals and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.  One adult was treated at the scene but was not transported.

"Every component of our emergency plan worked exceptionally well," said Fire & EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin, who commended school officials for their coordination of the evacuation and temporary relocation of several dozen students.  Metropolitan Police are conducting an investigation into how the substance was deployed

September 22, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Units were dispatched to Texas Avenue S.E. Saturday Evening around 1800 hrs. for an apartment. Units operating discovered the body of what is believed to be an elderly female. The condition of the body makes it difficult to make a positive ID but information from other residents points toward an elderly female in her 70's. It is undetermined whether or not there were working smoke detectors in the aparment.

Box Alarm E19,15,32,8,18 T16,7 BFC3 R3 WFD E7, T13, BFC 2

September 19, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

DCFD's Special Operations Division was called to a gruesome scene to assist MPD and the Office of the Medical Examiner remove the body of a very large man from the apartment where he died.  Tower 3 was called to participate in the operation, which involved the securing of the body, which weighed in excess of 650 pounds and lowering it from the second floor apartment to a waiting OCME van.  DCFD utilized two ladder trucks an engine and various EMS assets in the operation, which took more than an hour to complete with no injuries to firefighters.  MPD was investigating the cause of the 28-year-old man's death.

	NBC 4 Video From Burn Camp Visit Burn Foundation Website

August 25, 2007 by The Burn Foundation

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September 18, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

September 18, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

One person had to be extricated by D.C. firefighters following a multi-car collision in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Tuesday morning, September 18.

Units assigned to the rescue local around 7:45 AM found one of the vehicles on its roof, with an individual pinned inside. Rescue Squad 2 successfully removed the patient, who was transported by medic unit to an area trauma center. At least one other victim from another vehicle was also transported to the hospital.

September 17, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

September 16, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

Two People are dead despite heroic efforts by firefighters at a second alarm blaze in Petworth on Sunday, September 16th.

The fire erupted around 6:45 AM in a two story row dwelling at 723 Emerson Street N.W. Heavy fire roaring out of the basement extended up to fully involve both floors of the enclosed rear porch, as well as sweeping into the cockloft and eating their way into exposures B and D.

Firefighters who battled their way inside, despite intense heat and smoke, pulled a 77-rear-old woman from the home. She was rushed from the scene with CPR in progress, but subsequently declared dead upon arriving at the hospital. The body of her son, who reportedly escaped but ran back into the house to try to find his mother, was later discovered inside.

It took a second alarm assignment conducting a hard fought interior attack to bring the blaze under control.

Following the fire, Fire Chief Dennis Rubin and other senior staff conducted a news conference in front the the gutted home, after whichscores of firefighters conducting smoke installation surveys andinstallations throut the neighborhood.

September 14, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

September 8, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Photos by Elliott J. Goodman

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.

September 13, 2007 by 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.

September 12 , 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

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.

Pictures Courtesy of Jarrid Gaston FFA

September 11, 2007 Photo by Chuck Ryan

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

September 10, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

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.

September 6, 2007 by 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.

September 5, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

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

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 6114 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