To donate click: http://pages.lightthenight.org/nca/WashDC11/TeamKman

Team K-Man was created last year in honor of Kevin Mullen, son of DCFD.com Webmaster John Mullen. Kevin lost his battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in June of 2010 after fighting a tough 7 year battle. During his illness Kevin endured many different courses of treatment. He had the courage of a lion to have gone through all he did but he always managed to enter the hospital for his treatments with a smile on his face and hope in his heart.

If you walked with us last year or donated to our Team: thank you again and welcome back. We got started late last year but within 6 weeks we raised over $12,000.00. This year we have raised over $16,000.00 with hopes of breaking the $25,000.00 mark by walk time on October 15th 2011. Your support for such a worthwhile cause would be greatly appreciated.

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.
In fact, in 2009 alone, LLS researchers were conducting more than 90 clinical trials, a critical step in the development of new treatments and cures that will help patients live better, longer lives.
A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please make a donation to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Be sure to check the Web site frequently to see the progress leading up to the walk, thank for your support!

To donate click: http://pages.lightthenight.org/nca/WashDC11/TeamKman

September 30, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo

The morning routine for 2nd Battalion firefighters was interrupted when flames broke out at a Capital Hill row dwelling on Friday, September 30.

A box alarm was sounded around 8:40 AM for the blaze at 828 D Street SE. First arriving units had smoke showing from the second floor of the three story middle of the row house, and a working fire dispatch was sounded.

The fire was confined to one room on the second floor, and was extinguished without injuries.

Box Alarm: E18, 7, 10, 13, 19, T7, 13, BC3, BC6, R3, A18

WFD: E2, T10, EMS2, M27, FM206, FM219, AIR2, SAFO, DFCOP

September 27, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

A CO leak at a Columbia Heights rehab center sent 43 people to the hospital in a mass casualty incident Tuesday afternoon, September 27th.

Engine 11 was initially dispatched on a medical local to 1324 Harvard Street NW for a sick person. The crew quickly recognized they had a potential carbon monoxide event on their hands, and called for more resources while beginning evacuations.

Initial CO readings were 100 PPM at the front door and 500-600 in some interior areas. Due to the high readings, all of the 43 residents and staff required medical evaluation, and a mass casualty event was declared.

Both the North and South mass casualty task forces were requested, as well as the third medical bus. Oxygen therapy was immediately administered, and 10 patients deemed serious were rushed to hospitals via ambulances, while the rest were transported by the medical buses.

September 26, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

The True Reformer Building, a U Street landmark dating back to 1903, was the scene of a working fire late Monday afternoon, September 26th.

Firefighters were called to the five story structure at 1200 U Street NW around 5 PM for a reported smoke condition. They arrived to encounter smoke showing from the street level, and a working fire dispatch was sounded.

Crews entering the structure found sprinkler activation and fire in the basement ceiling and first floor walls. Units immediately began to open up from above and below to expose and extinguish the flames.

The blaze was contained and brought under control in relatively short order, and without injuries. The cause was believed to be electrical in nature.

September 25, 2011: Story & Photos By Elliot J Goodman

DC Firefighters responded for the report of smoke coming from the Metro station at Union Station at approximately 1800. Units approaching the scene reported moderate smoke conditions coming from grates and as well smoke in the station.

A working fire dispatch was sounded, units encountered a fire in the electrical store room. Both Union Station and the Metro station were evacuated.The fire was placed under control in about an hour.

September 13, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo

DC fire investigators are looking into two suspicious fires set outside homes in the far Northeast section of the city Tuesday morning, September 13th.

Units dispatched to the 4500 block of Quarles street NE around 4:45 AM found fire burning on the exterior of two adjacent townhomes. The flames were quickly extinguished before extending inside.

No injuries were reported.

September 11, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden visit firefighters at D.C. Fire Department Engine 20, Truck 12, in Washington, DC., Sep. 11, 2011. The Vice President and Dr. Biden stopped by with coffee and breakfast to thank the firefighters for their service. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

September 10, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo

One person died and a second was seriously injured in a 4th Battalion row house blaze on Saturday evening, September 10th.

Firefighters arrived in the 5100 block of 7th Street NW approximately 8:30 PM to find heavy fire blowing from the second floor rear of the two story row dwelling.

A working fire dispatch was sounded. Rescue Squad 2, searching the second floor, found a lifeless adult female. She was transported to an area trauma center and declared DOA.

A second victim who had previously escaped the flames was also transported in serious condition.

The incident was quickly brought under control.

September 7, 2011: Story By Vito Maggiolo, Photo By: Thomas Dooley

Fourth Battalion Units battled a basement fire in a Mount Pleasant Street restaurant on Wednesday, September 7th.

The blaze erupted around 7:45 AM in the three story mixed occupancy structure at 3217 Mount Pleasant Street NW. Heavy smoke was showing on arrival and a working fire dispatch was sounded.

The fire was brought under control without any injuries.

9-11-01 Pentagon Photos Courtesy of Elliot J. Goodman

September 7, 2011: Story & Photos By Elliot J. Goodman

Late this morning DC Firefighters responded for the report of a large crane that had fallen at the National Cathedral on Wisconsin Ave. Upon arrival units encountered a massive five hundred foot, fifty ton crane that had totally fallen over.

The crane luckily for all, fell in alignment of the street just barely missing the National Cathedral structure and adjacent buildings, The crane did land on cars and and a truck parked nearby. Miraculously the only injury was the crane operator who was transported with non-life threatening injuries.

Search's were made by the rescue squads and a K-9 search dog of the affected buildings and cars, those searchs were negative. The initial operation lasted approximately two hours and were then cleared by Special Operations Chief Bashore. Best wishes to Chief Bashore on his last day in Special Operations and his new assignment in the Fire Marshals office.

September 1, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

A speeding vehicle that careened across all lanes of busy Bladensburg Road resulted in a multi car wreck with one overturned on Thursday afternoon, September 1st.

A rescue assignment dispatched to the 1300 block of Bladensburg Road NE arrived to find the apparent stolen vehicle on its side with both occupants seriously injured. Neither was trapped.

Firefighters helped secure the scene and the two victims were transported to a trauma center.

September 1, 2011: Story & Photos By Vito Maggiolo

11 victims of a pepper spray incident outside a Southeast charter school were attended to by DC Fire/EMS personnel on Thursday, September 1st.

Units were dispatched to 709 12th Street SE, the Ceser Chavez Charter School, around 3p for persons with eye and throat irritation. They arrived to learn that a group of students and teachers, standing outside the facility during a fire drill, were sprayed with the substance by an unknown individual who ran from the scene.

Due to the number of patients, The South Mass Casualty Task force, consisting of a medical bus and equipment van staffed by Engine 33 and Truck 8, was called to the scene.

The bus transported all the victims to Children’s Hospital for further evaluation.