DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, and NEW JERSEY FIRE DEPARTMENTS

It was back to the National Fire Academy to teach the Analysis of Arson Management class, and of course, do a little fire buffing. I ended up chasing a bunch of incidents in Washington, DC; Maryland; and New Jersey. For all of the fire scenes I photographed, I have no hot shots to speak of. While this speaks well of the efficiency of these various fire departments, it also leaves me to document apparatus and faces. I am again indebted to my friends Fire Chief Dennis Rubin, Honorary Fire Chief Vito Maggiolo, Firefighter Chris Oliphant, and retired Fire Communications Supervisor Elliot Goodman for their hospitality during my stay in our Nation’s Capital. What follows are photo of various fire incidents that occurred during my travels of January, 2009.

Since I was in the neighborhood I thought I would take a few shots of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Headquarters located in Fairfax, VA.

01/15/09 - 12:16 hours - A blazing van adjacent to an apartment building led to a box alarm being sounded on Thursday, January 15th, 2009. An engine was initially dispatched to the call in the 1400 block of 17th Street NW. Customer Service Unit 6 was in the area and arrived to find the van fully involved with possible extension to a first floor apartment. They began attacking the flames with a water extinguisher while the box was filled. Although heat shattered the apartment windows, flames did not enter the apartment, and the incident was quickly placed under control.

01/16/09 – 1343 Hours - Units responded at 1343 hours for a report of a house on fire in the 1200 block of Randolph Street, NE. Firefighters encountered smoke showing upon arrival and discovered fire conditions in the walls of a two story duplex style home. Firefighters were able to quickly locate the source of the fire and extinguish it with no injuries to either civilians or personnel.

01/17/09 – 0005 Hours - Collapse Task Force Alarm was sounded shortly after midnight on January 17th, 2009 for a vehicle into a building at 4296 Southern Avenue, SE. Units arrived to find a car into a house on side (B) Bravo. The collapse team arrived and went to work surveying the building and also doing some minor shoring to the wall. Rescue Squad 3 is the company specializing with Urban Search and Rescue and building collapses, and the Cave-In Unit carries the tools and equipment needed for these incidents and responds with Squad 3. While all personnel assigned to the squads maintain the same level of training in the various technical rescue disciplines each Squad is outfitted with specialized equipment and responds on specific types of calls.

01/22/09 – 1551 Hours - The first and second floors of a house at 7322 Granalta Circle in Frederick were well involved when fire companies arrived shortly after 1551 Hours. They were dispatched for an automobile fire that had extended into the garage, but the incident was more than that when they arrived. Firefighters knocked down the fire in a Ford Expedition parked outside of the home, then worked the interior and exterior of the structure and had the fire controlled within 30 minutes. The fire appears to have started in the parked vehicle, and was being investigated when I left the scene.

01/24/09 - 1312 Hours - Units arrived to find fire in the walls of the second floor bathroom of a 2.5 story wood frame home. The fire was quickly controlled by Springfield and Millburn firefighters. Additional mutual aid was provided by the Summit and Union Fire Departments.

01/25/09 – 0724 Hours - Irvington Firefighters responded to 12 Taft Place to find a fire in the attic of a 2 story wood frame residence. Deputy 1 put all hands to work for the fire that was located in the cockloft. The fire was controlled by the first alarm assignment and the arson unit was notified due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire’s origin.

01/25/09 – 1431 hours- Scotch Plains Firefighters rolled up on fire showing from the second floor of this 2 story brick mixed occupancy. Mutual Aid units from Westfield and Plainfield responded to the scene. It appeared that the fire started in a kitchen area and extended through the building.

01/25/09 – 1514 hours - Chatham Fire units were dispatched to 31 Front Street for a report of a house fire. First due companies reported that they had a working fire in a single family dwelling. Mutual Aid was provided by Chatham Township’s Long Hill Fire Company.

Located at the quarters of Engine Company 13 and Truck 10 (650 6th Street, SW) these three units (the Foam Unit, the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit, and the Twin Agent Unit) are staffed and detailed to the While House for landings and take-offs of Marine One. Marine One is the call sign of the United States Marine Corps helicopter carrying the President of the United States.

Just a quick word about DCFD’s alarm assignments, on a Box Alarm you get 5 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 1 Rescue Squad, 1 EMS Unit, and 2 Battalion Chiefs. If a Working Fire Dispatch is transmitted you would get an additional 1 Engine Company, 1 Truck Company, 1 Fire Investigator, 1 Air Unit, 1 Safety Officer, 1 EMS Supervisor, and 1 Ambulance. If a Second Alarm is struck, 4 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Deputy Chief, the Canteen and Rehab Units, the Haz-Mat Unit, and Mobile Command unit are dispatched.

01/26/09 – 1919 hours - On January 26th, 2009 shortly after 1900 hours, DCFD units were dispatched to 1100 “F” Street, NE for a report of a fire in the basement laundry room. There were initial reports that persons were trapped in the building. Smoke was discovered in the 3 story apartment building and a Working Fire Dispatch was called for. Companies had the incident under control in short order.

01/26/09 – 2350 hours - On January 26th, 2009, shortly before midnight, companies were dispatched to 1901 Wyoming Avenue, NW for a report of an apartment fire. First due units reported fire showing from the sixth floor of a seven story apartment building and a Working Fire Dispatch was initiated. DCFD units contained the fire to the floor or origin.

01/27/09 – 0615 hours - On January 27th, 2009 at approximately 0615 hours, the communications office transmitted the box alarm for the building in the 1400 block of “C” Street, SE. Units reported fire showing from a 2 story row house located at 1440 “C” Street, SE and a Working Fire Dispatch followed shortly. Units encountered fire extending to the roof and “pack rat” conditions in the unoccupied building. The fire was controlled with the units assigned to the box and WFD assignment.

01/27/09 – 0718 hours - At 0718 hours, units responded for a report of fire on the second floor of a two-story commercial building at 1000 “F” Street, NW. The first arriving company encountered smoke pouring from the second floor with fire showing through the roof. Firefighters were able to move aggressively into the vacant second floor and begin knocking down the fire. The incident was controlled within 45 minutes, with no civilian injuries. Five firefighters, however, were transported to local hospitals for injuries described as “non-life threatening.” The souvenir shop on the first floor sustained water damage but suffered no fire damage.

Just a glance of Chief Dennis Rubin’s office located at the Fire and Emergency Medical Services’ Headquarters, 1923 Vermont Avenue, NW. Dennis’ experience in fire and rescue service spans more than 35 years. He has been a line firefighter, company grade officer and command level officer in several major fire departments including Washington, DC and Norfolk, Virginia. In 1994, he served as the President of the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia. He was the host Fire Chief for the 1999 Southeastern Fire Chiefs Association conference held in Dothan, Alabama. Chief Rubin was the host Fire Chief for the “Wingspread IV and V” conferences held in 1996 and 2006.