March 31, 2011: Story and Photos By Jonathan Riffe (E-30 #3)

Twenty Five years ago on this date, March 31, 1986, Charles Hottinger and rookie Class 295 graduated from the "DCFD" Training Academy.

This evening, the members of Engine 30 & Truck 17, friends, and retired "DCFD" members gathered for a wonderful meal (steak, shrimp, baked potatoes, rolls and salads). The members of the house presented Lt. Hottinger with a plaque for his 25 years of service as well as a miniature Local 36 helmet from the 1960's. Lt. Hottinger also serves as the 1st Vice President of the International Association of Firefighter Local 36.

His career path:
March 31, 1986 to June 4, 1986 - Training School
June 5, 1986 to April 9, 1987 - Engine 13 Private
April 9, 1987 to June 1, 1991 - Engine 10 Private
June 1, 1991 to July 14, 2002 - Engine 10 Wagon Drive
July 14, 2002 to December 15, 2002 - 5th Battalion Sergeant
December 15, 2002 to November 16, 2003 - Truck 14 Sergeant
November 16, 2003 to April 3, 2004 - Truck 9 Sergeant
April 3, 2004 to March 15, 2007 - Engine 23 Lieutenant
March 15, 2007 to October 26, 2008 - Truck 17 Lieutenant
October 26, 2008 to Present - Engine 30 Lieutenant

The members of "DCFD" Engine 30 & Truck 17 would like to congratulate Lt. Hottinger on his 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens and visitors of the Nations Capitol.

March 29, 2011: Story By: Vito Maggiolo

A cooling tower burning atop a McPherson Square office building send a massive plume of smoke over downtown DC on Tuesday morning, March 29th.

The fire erupted around 10:30 AM at 1401 I Street NW, a 10 story fire resistive commercial building. A working fire dispatch was quickly sounded due to the major smoke conditions visible from a distance.

Firefighters made their way to the roof, and quickly applied water to the blazing structure, knocking it down. It was determined that flames did not spread beyond the tower, and there were no injuries reported in the incident.

March 24, 2011: Story & Photos By: Elliot J. Goodman

Thursday afternoon DC Firefighters were dispatched to the 1200 Blk of Evarts Street N.E., for the report of a trench collapse with one person trapped, BFC Kevin Sloan first on the scene immediately notified incoming units of a confirmed rescue operation with one person severely trapped approximately twelve feet down in an excavation ditch.

The assignment brought Rescue Squads 1 & 3 with the Collapse Task Force, Engines 26-6-4 Trucks 15 & 4, BFC 1, SOPS BFC, SOPS DFC, FFD, AFCO, SAFO Command Unit ,Hazmat Unit, several EMS units and The FFA with the Canteen and Rehab unit.

Units immediately began the rescue mode to free the victim, but it soon was learned this would be a recovery operation. This incident showed how well prepared and trained DC Firefighters are to handle the most extreme and difficult rescue operations they deal with.

Thomas R. Clark, E-26 #1 assuming duty for the last time. Tommy will retire
after 34 years of service on March 25, 2011.

March 2011: By Firefighter James Seavey, Jr. E-16-2

The DCFD Stairclimb Team traveled to Seattle, Washington the first weekend in March to participate in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

On March 6, 2011 ten members of the team participated and all ten
members completed in full the 69 flight stairclimb to the top of the Columbia Center in Downtown Seattle.

Most importantly, the team raised a total of 8,058.86 which was donated in full to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The team would like to thank all of our supporters, both DCFD and others!

Participating Members:
Lieutenant Kevin Donahue, E-22-2
Firefighter Troy Stocker, E-22-2
Firefighter James Seavey, Jr., E-16-2
Firefighter Robert Wasarhaley, E-10-3
Firefighter Arthur Baker, E-6-2
Firefighter Timothy Sattler, T-16-1
Firefighter Shaun Marlowe, E-1-3
Firefighter Dustin Merryman, E-22-2
Firefighter Sean Harrington, E-22-4
Firefighter Ryan Flammang, E-3-3

March 22, 2011: Story & Photos By: Vito Maggiolo

Firefighters made brief work of a house fire on Tuesday evening, March 22nd.

The box alarm was sounded around 8:30 PM for 4435 Linnean Avenue NW, a large two story dwelling. Firefighters arrived to find a fire burning in the joists between the first and second floors.

A working fire dispatch was sounded, but the flames were kept in check to the area of origin. There were no injuries.

March 22, 2011

Around 1430 hours on Tuesday March 22, 2011, Engine 22 was sent to North Capitol St just south of Fort Drive for a MVA. Arriving on the scene they found a male victim trapped in an auto that was struck by a concrete truck. They immediately upgraded the assignment which brought RS2, T11, BFC4, EMS1, and other units.

Rescue Squad 2 extricated the male patient from the auto, he was transported to the Washington Hospital Center. After the patient was extricated it was determined that none of the witnesses could confirm the male was by himself in the auto and there was an infant car seat lying behind the car.

It was then decided that Wrecker 1 would be called to the scene to lift the concrete truck to check underneath for other occupants that may have been in the auto. Wrecker 1 lifted the truck and it was determined that the male driver was the lone occupant of the auto.

The driver of the concrete truck was not injured in the accident.

March 15, 2011: Photos By: CoDoc

DC Fire & EMS spokesman Pete Piringer said it took firefighters 15-20 minutes to put the fire out at the Lowest Price Gas Station at the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Q St., NW.

The fire caused significant damage to the building, a car inside the building and one car outside the building. Two nearby restaurants also suffered damage from the fire.

Piringer said investigators believe the fire was accidental. They said technicians were working on a gas tank in a vehicle with a space heater nearby, and it's believed the fumes from the space heater ignited the gasoline fumes.

Three people were evaluated, one for smoke inhalation, but all three people refused transport.

March 10, 2011: Story & Photos By: Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters were presented with an unusual challenge aboard a school bus Thursday afternoon, March 10th.

The incident, in the 2900 block of Garfield Terrace NW, involved a young mentally challenged girl, who fell inside the bus. In doing so, one of her legs bent under her, wedging her tightly between two seats.

Rescue 2 evaluated the situation, and found the best course of action was to dismantle and remove one of the seats. This was able to free the child, who was than evaluated by EMS and found to be uninjured

March 10, 2011: Story & Photos By: Vito Maggiolo

Heavy rains may have caused an electrical fire that struck a Dupont Circle area townhouse in the predawn hours of Thursday, March 10th.

A box alarm assignment responded to 1762 Church Street NW to find an electrical box on fire in the three story row dwelling under renovation.

A working fire dispatch was requested as firefighters worked to prevent fire spread, and awaited Pepco to cut off power.

Once power was isolated, the incident was quickly brought under control.

March 9, 2011: Story & Photos By: Elliot J. Goodman

Late Wednesday night on South Capital Street near Bolling AFB, units responded for a reported motor vehicle accident with persons reported trapped.

Upon arrival units found a two car high speed collision with two trapped victims. One person in the car was confirmed DOA and another was a CPR. One victim was so severely pinned that Rescue Squad 1 was requested to the scene to assist Rescue Squad 3 with the extrication.

In addition Engine 25, Truck 8 , Naval District Engine 43 and a vast assortment of EMS units responded to assist.

March 9, 2011: Story & Photos By: Elliot J. Goodman

Wednesday afternoon during the height of the afternoon rush hour, DCFD units responded to the 400 block of 12th St. S.W. for the report of a motor vehicle accident.

Engine 13 arrived on the scene and reported a four car collision with two trapped victims. Rescue Squad 1 arrived on the scene and went in service with their extrication tools. The top of one of the cars had to be cut off to free the victims, two persons were transported a local hospital.

Battalion 6 assumed command and Truck 10 assisted with several EMS units on the scene.

March 9, 2011: Story & Photos By: Elliot J. Goodman

The most famous Clydesdale in the world visited the "Phone Booth" { Verizon Center } Wednesday evening during the Caps game, At the request of this beautiful and famous Clydesdale seen in so many Super Bowl commercials, members of Rescue Squad 1 and Engine 2 posed with him for this great picture.

March 2011

Recruit Class 364 will graduate from the Training Academy on Friday, March 11, 2011. Commencement Ceremony will start at 1000 hours.

March 6, 2011: Photos By Jarrid Gaston

Basement fire in eleven story commercial office building.

Box: Engines 16-1-23-9-21, Trucks 3 & 2, BFC 6, Rescue Squad 2

March 5, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters got to host an extraordinary group of people when “follow that fire engine” arrived in the nation’s capital on Saturday, March 5th.

Traveling with a retired English pump (AKA engine apparatus) the group is traveling across three continents in a quest to raise money for three charities dedicated to battling cancer and aiding firefighters.

The project is dedicated to the memory of firefighter Garth Moore, of the Dorset Fire Brigade, who died of lung cancer in 2009. His son, Steve Moore, is leading the expedition, a nine month odyssey that will take them through 28 countries.

The contingent was greeted at the quarters of Engine 3 by that unit, as well as Rescue Squad 1 and several chief officers. They explained their goals to the DC firefighters and were given a tour of the station, the DC fire and EMS museum, and Rescue squad 1’s capabilities. Lunch was provided by the DC Fire Foundation.

For more information on their quest, see http://www.followthatfireengine.com

2020 Florida Avenue N.W. March 6, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo A Dupont Circle area eatery was severely damaged by fire in the post midnight hours of Sunday, March 6th. The stubborn blaze broke out around 12:30 AM in a two story commercial building at 2020 Florida Avenue NW. Originating in a first floor restaurant kitchen, flames spread upwards to involve the second floor and attic area. It took a working fire dispatch with a special call for an addition truck to root out fire hiding in the walls and cockloft. There were no reported injuries.

Apartment Fire 1700 Block Benning Road N.E. March 2, 2011: Courtesy of www.27engine.com At 2023 hours, units with the 2nd Battalion were alerted to the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE for an apartment with people trapped. E27 responded fifth due as units arrived on side Alpha of a three story apartment building with smoke showing from the first floor, and people evacuating. The main fire was found in a first floor apartment along with a child still inside. The child was removed and quickly turned over to awaiting EMS for transport. An adult was found outside with burns, and also transported. While checking exposures, another fire was found in a kitchen on the second floor due to the quick evacuation of residence. E27 ran the 350' and teamed up with T15 to form the RIT Group. The fires were quickly knocked down, and the Box was held to two and two. E27 operated for just under an hour.

MVA I-395 At 7th Street S.W. March 2, 2011 At 1038 hours, units with Battalion 2 were alerted to I-395 SB and 7th Street S.W. for a motor vehicle accident involving a police officer. Units found a three vehicle accident with two cars and a police motorcycle involved. The officer was packaged and flown to the Trauma Center by Eagle 1 with serious injuries. One other patient was ground transported with minor injuries.