October 30, 2011: Courtesy of www.engine15rescue3.com

At 1959 hrs Squad 3 along with other units in the 2nd battalion were alerted to a motor vehicle accident with reported people trapped.

First arriving units confirmed that they had one trapped victim. Rescue 3 arrived and went to work removing the trapped unconscious victim in under 15 minutes and turned over patient care to awaiting EMS personnel.

October, 2011: Story & Photos By Elliot J. Goodman

One of the best of the best retired October 20, 2011 with 27 years of dedication and service to the DCFD. Rolo Villars appointed to Engine 21 and promoted as truck driver to one of the top truck companies in the city, retired with a dinner given at Engine 11 by his comrades and attended by more than 100.

During his career at Truck 6, especially while on Park Road, he drove his truck company to so many fires and always made sure that his truck work would be beneficial and the most help to the citizens he served as well his fellow firefighters. Most memorable was the truck work of he and his fellow Tillerman Tommy Caroll at 1444 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. where at a spectacular three alarm high rise fire, his truck company responded on the Third Alarm to assist in making numerous rescues in the fire building.

He maneuvered Truck 6 into an alley with only a 1/2 inch clearance on either side to help in those rescues. We all wish Firefighter Villars all the best in health and happiness for many years to come.

October 28, 2011: Story By: Vito Maggiolo

For the second time in recent years, DC firefighters joined forces with US Park Police and Animal Control to rescue a deer from the waters of the tidal basin.

The Special Ops Battalion Chief was called to the scene around 8:30 AM on Friday, October 28th, and requested the assistance of Rescue Squad 1 and the fireboat support unit for their boats.

They were able to corner the deer under the Ohio Drive bridge, and successfully pulled it from the cold waters into Rescue 1’s zodiac.

The animal was safely brought to shore and turned over to animal control.

October 27, 2011: Story & Photos By Elliot J. Goodman

Shortly after the Montana Avenue fire, units were again dispatched for the report of a house on fire at 1128 G Street N.E.

Squad 1 and Engine 13 (now first due) had just finished fueling at West Virginia Avenue and were only a few blocks away at the dispatch of the call. Truck 13 also close by arrived first on the scene with heavy fire showing from the top floor and roof. Units quickly got lines in place to prevent the heavy fire conditions from extending , this prevented a second alarm from being sounded.

Truck companies had saws working which also prevented any additional extension, Squad 1 made their searches, and with the usual great DCFD teamwork , kept the fire to the house of origin and was under control within 30 minutes.

October 27, 2011: Story & Photos By Elliot J. Goodman

In what would be the first of two back to back fires, DC Firefighters were dispatched Thursday evening to 517 Montana Avenue N.E.

Upon arrival Engine 26 reported smoke in the hallway and immediately found a fire in a first floor apartment, the fire was quickly knocked down and placed under control within 10 minutes.

A working fire dispatch was sounded.

October 25, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters joined forces with law enforcement in safely recovering a potential jumper at Union station Monday evening, October 25th.

Units arrived at the station’s parking garage to find a mentally challenged individual clambering on the metal grid work over the five story high open escalator. The man was very agitated, and at one point ripped down a large light fixture, which fell several floors below.

Members of Rescue Squads 1 and 3 prepared for the possibility of a rope rescue, but fortunately MPD negotiators were successful in talking the man down. He was than handed over to EMS for transport.

October 25, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

An automatic fire alarm may have saved an upper NW home from serious damage Tuesday afternoon, October 25th.

Units were dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at 5719 Chevy Chase Parkway NW. While enroute, additional calls were received for smoke coming from the house, and the box was filled.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a room involved on the second floor of the 2.5 story detached frame dwelling. The blaze was quickly contained to the area involved, and searches of the dwelling proved negative.

October 25, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo

The DC hazmat and other suppression units were kept busy with an unknown substance picked up by DPW crews on Tuesday morning, October 25th.

A hazmat box was initially dispatched to 5th and I Streets NE for a trash bag giving off fumes. Once on the scene, it was ascertained that a DPW employee had been taken by private vehicle to a hospital with respiratory distress, and that the product was on a city trash truck that left the scene.

The truck was located in the 900 block of H Street NE, with additional employees requesting medical attention. The decision was made to have the truck continue to a DPW facility, where it could be safely unloaded and DC Fire/EMS crews could mitigate the danger.

October 24, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

Two Southeast Washington residents were taken to the hospital after fire struck their apartment building on Monday evening, October 24th.

The box alarm assignment arrived at 4009 3rd Street SE to find fire showing from the second floor of a three story apartment building. Responding units had also been notified of a child and adult trapped on the third floor.

A working fire dispatch was sounded as firefighters initiated an interior attack and began searching the structure. Members of Rescue Squad 3 found the trapped occupants, and removed the baby while sheltering an adult female in place.

The blaze was confined to the apartment of origin, and quickly knocked down.

October 24, 2011: Story & Photos Courtesy www.27engine.com

At 1733 hours, units with the 3rd Battalion were alerted to the 700 block of 49th Place, NE for a house.

E27 responded second due as units arrived on side Alpha of a two story, single family with smoke showing. E27 arrived on side Charlie with fire showing from the second floor, advanced the 250', checked the basement, and backed up E30 with two rooms and a hallway.

The fire was knocked in 10 minutes and the Box was scaled back to two and two. E27 operated for one hour. Pictures are property of 27engine.com.

October 24, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

Muriatic acid fumes at a city aquatic center brought a sizable hazmat and EMS assignment to the scene on Monday afternoon, October 24th.

The incident took place in the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center at 635 North Carolina Avenue SE, when an employee opened a container of the chemical and fumes spread through part of the facility.

A number of occupants were exposed, and began complaining of respiratory distress. A hazmat local was dispatched, and suppression units searched and evacuated the building while EMS began assessing the patients. One of the mass casualty buses was also requested to the scene.

Two children and four adults were taken to area hospitals for further evaluation. Rescue Squad and Hazmat personnel metered the building and ensured there was no further threat.

October 21, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

A blaze that erupted in the wee hours of the morning heavily damaged a Southwest Washington apartment on Friday, October 21st.

Firefighters dispatched on a box alarm around 12:40 AM found fire showing from two fifth floor windows of an eight story apartment building at 1301 Delaware Avenue SW.

Battalion 3 requested the working fire dispatch as units began an interior attack. Two additional truck companies were called to assist with search and ventilation due to heavy smoke on several floors. A number of civilians had to be sheltered in place.

The fire was contained and controlled without injuries.

October 21, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters averted a major blaze after fire erupted inside the massive DC Farmers Market building in Northeast on Thursday, October 20th.

A box alarm assignment arrived shortly before 9 PM to find heavy smoke coming from the three story, block long building at 1309 Fifth Street NE., resulting in a working fire dispatch. Due to the time of night and occupancy of the structure, forcible entry proved a formidable challenge.

Once inside, firefighters encountered extreme smoke conditions and high heat while facing a complex series of booths and other obstacles, with a very high fire load. A second alarm was than sounded.

Despite these conditions, interior crews persevered until the flames could be located and knocked down, after which ventilation was complicated by the lack of windows and other openings. Four trucks had to be committed to the process of clearing smoke from inside the building.

Companies remained on the scene overnight for overhaul and fire watch.

October 21, 2011: Story & Photos Courtesy www.27engine.com

At 0856 hours, units with the 2nd Battalion were alerted to the 4800 block of Bass Place, SE.

E27 responded second due as units arrived on side Alpha of a two story middle of the row with smoke showing. E27 backed up the first due Engine with a room off on the second floor.

A working fire dispatch was sounded, the fire was quickly contained. E27 operated for one hour.

October 18, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

A mid afternoon accident involving a metro bus and front end loader sent six people to area hospitals on Tuesday, October 18th.

The bus was northbound in the 1100 block of North Capital Street NE, on the service road, when a front end loader slammed into its side. The bus was struck with such force that a hole was punched into it.

Six passengers aboard the bus suffered injuries, including a Pri-1 trauma and another complaining of chest pains. Several EMS units and supervisory personnel, including medical mass casualty bus 2, operated at the scene under the direction of First Battalion Chief Kevin Sloan.