FIRE
BOAT BACK IN SERVICE
January
28- After a week of being out of service, Fire Boat 8 was placed back in
service. On January 20th, the boat started
taking on water while assisting Potomac Marine during the salvage operation
of the air boat due to a problem with the bilge pumps. Sump
pumps were placed in service on Boat 8 by the Potomac Marine tow boat and
the salvage operation of the air boat was stopped. Potomac Marine then towed
Boat 8 back to the Sweden Point Marina. We want to thank Captain Terry Hill
and his crew from Potomac Marine for their assistance.
PENGUIN PLACE HOUSE FIRE
January 31
at 0130 - The Tanker and Chief 8A (as the West Side Chief) responded to a
working house fire on Penguin Place in Fenwick (Company 11's area). Chief 8A
was assigned as the Water Supply Officer by
Command (Chief 11). Tanker 8 supplied water to Tanker 11 (Bryans Road) and
was released by command. The Chief and Tanker worked on the scene for about
an hour.
GARAGE FIRE IN LA PLATA
January
13 at 1812 - The working fire assignment was dispatched for a garage on fire
on Glen Albin Road in La Plata. The Rescue and Tanker both responded with a
total of five members. Upon arrival of Rescue 8, the company was assigned as
the Rapid Intervention Group. The crew placed some lights around the
structure and assured that means of egress were open for the crews operating
on the inside. The Tanker dumped one load of water into the drafting basin
and was released by Command. The Rescue returned to quarters after a short
time on the fireground.
LARGE
BRUSH FIRE
January 11 at 1217 -
Just as the water rescue was concluding, a brush fire was dispatched on
Highground Farm Place. Units
arrived to find a fast moving field fire with exposure problems. First
arriving Engine 21-1 (Stump Neck Navy Base) knocked down the fire around an
occupied trailer. They established command and requested several more brush
units and an additional tanker be dispatched. The
fire consumed over 15 acres. Five brush units and two tankers were used to
extinguish the fire.
Ambulance
8-7 established an aid station. Forestry also responded. The cause of the
blaze is still under investigation.
Units
on scene:
Brush
8-4, Brush 8, Tanker 8, Ambulance 8-7 and Chief 8.
Engine
21-1 (Navy Base), Brush 7-4 and Tanker 7 (Potomac Heights), Brush 4-4 (Nanjemoy)
and Brush 9-4 (Indian Head)
ANOTHER
WATER RESCUE ON THE POTOMAC
January
11 at 1135 - Communications dispatched the boat in distress assignment once
again, this time for a canoeist that was in distress on the Potomac River
off of the Leeslyvania Park in Woodbridge, Va. The Marine Support Unit with
the Fireboat, the Boat Support Unit with the Airboat, Ambulance 8-7 and
Chief 8 responded. Communications had received a 911 call from a person in a
canoe on the river that had became disoriented and was stuck in the ice. The
decision was made to use the Airboat again due to the amount of ice at
Sweden Point Marina. Command was established by Chief 8. Command
requested that Prince William County dispatch an assignment due to the
location being close to the Virginia side. He also requested that a
helicopter be dispatched. Both MSP Trooper 2 and 7 responded. The Prince
William units arrived at the Leeslyvania Park and could see the canoe
approximately 200 yards off shore. They launched a small inflatable boat to
assist the person in distress back to the park. While leaving the Mattawoman
Creek, Airboat 8 became disabled and started to take on water. The decision
was made to abandon the boat and the crew was hoisted off of the deck by
Trooper 7 using the rescue basket. The two members were then transported to
the landing pad at Stump Neck to be evaluated by the crew of Ambulance 8-7.
The crew did not require any medical attention. The Airboat was left
anchored near the mouth of the Mattawoman Creek. Due to the ice conditions,
there has been no attempt made to recover the boat. When conditions permit,
the boat will be brought back to Sweden Point. We would like to thank the
crews of both Trooper 2 and 7 for assisting our members safely back to
shore.
MEMBERS
COMPLETE ICE RESCUE TRAINING
January
10, 2010 - The company would like to congratulate members Richard Hash, Carl
Brown, II and Michelle Rollins for completing the Ice Rescue Technician
course. This was a one day class that was taught by Rich Takacs of Water and
Ice Rescue Instruction Services. The members were instructed on how to
remove victims from a break in the ice and how to treat them after they have
been rescued. The class was also attended by members of the Charles County
Dive Rescue Team and the Benedict and Cobb Island VFD's. The Benedict VFD,
the Charles County Dive Rescue Team and our department are a part of a
county wide response system that responds as a team to incidents such as Ice
and Swift Water rescues throughout Charles County and Southern Maryland. By
the three members taking this class, it now brings our department up to a
total of twenty one members who have completed this training.
WATER
RESCUE ON THE POTOMAC
January
8 at 1118 - Communications dispatched Company 8 and EMS 58 (Ironsides) for a
small boat that was adrift in the Potomac River just off of Mathias Point,
Va. A citizen from Mathias Point had spotted a vessel drifting south on the
river that appeared to be un-occupied. The
Marine Support Unit along with the Fireboat responded. Due to the amount of
ice on the river, Chief 8A (Hudson) decided to have the Airboat respond and
also requested a Helicopter. Upon
arrival, there was significant ice at the Goose Bay Marina. It was decided
to utilize the Airboat and not launch the Fireboat. The Airboat was launched
with a crew of two and proceeded on the ice to Mathias Point. The area was
checked and nothing was found. Communications then advised that the Bridge
Police (located at the 301 Bridge) could see the vessel drifting south of
the bridge. They also advised that the vessel was under tow by another boat.
The Airboat continued south on the river until it could be confirmed that
the boat was not in distress and everyone was accounted for. The Boat
Support Unit was then re-located to the Aqualand Marina in Newburg to load
the Airboat.
BUILDING
FIRE IN BRYANS ROAD
December
19, 2009 at 0108 - Rescue 8 responded to 6000 block of Indian Head Highway
for a working building fire. First arriving units from Company 11 (Bryans
Road) found a one story Barber Shop heavily involved. The Rescue was
assigned as the Rapid Intervention Team and performed the duties associated
with that assignment.
MAJOR
WINTER STORM HITS AREA
December
18, 2009 - During the major winter storm that blanketed the area with as
much as twenty inches of snow, two crews were maintained in the station
responding to over twenty calls for assistance ranging from trees down in
the roadway to providing four wheel drive transport for victims with various
medical problems.
ANNUAL
SANTA CLAUS RUN
December
18 and 22 - Santa Claus made his rounds aboard Engine 8-3 again this year!
Special thanks to Sergeant Joe Tilley for co-coordinating the run this
year.
ANOTHER
SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON PORT TOBACCO ROAD
December
10, 2009 at 0125 - The Rescue was dispatched to assist Company 1 (La Plata)
with a serious motor vehicle accident with a person trapped in the 7900
block of Port Tobacco Road. Upon arrival, the Rescue was assigned to work
with Rescue Engine 13 already on the scene performing the extrication.
Rescue 8 operated on the scene for about 30 minutes.
ACCIDENT WITH EXTRICATION
IN McCHONCIE
December
5 at 1524 - The Rescue, Paramedic Ambulance and Chief 8B
(Gordon) responded to Port Tobacco Road at Blossom Point Road for a serious
Motor Vehicle Accident. Units arrived to find a two vehicle collision with
several patients. Rescue 8 along with Rescue Engine 13 (La Plata) worked to
release two patients that were trapped. Paramedic Ambulance 16-7 (running as
PA 8) transported one patient to an area trauma center. Chief 8B established
Command, Chief 1 (Moore) had the Extrication Group and Captain 8 (Burroughs)
was the EMS Group Leader. The Rescue and Chief operated for about 45
minutes.
