CAPITAL BLAZES '09

I had the opportunity to attend the 57th Annual Convention of the International Fire Buffs Associates in Washington, DC. I had a great time visiting with some old friends and meeting some new ones. I owe a big thanks to Chris Oliphant and Elliot Goodman for the nights of buffing, and to DCFD Honorary Fire Chief and IAFF Award Winning Photographer Vito Maggiolo for the use of his Convention Recap. Thanks guys, I hope to see you again soon!!

In what has been described as a highly successful event by many of its participants, the Friendship Fire Association hosted approximately 150 guests attending the 57th Annual Convention of the International Fire Buffs Associates here in Washington. Attendees from buff organizations around the country and Canada gathered at the Capitol Hill Liaison Hotel, next to Engine 3 and FFA headquarters, August 12th through 15th for four fun filled days of business and fire buffing activities.

The opening ceremony on Wednesday included stirring music from the DC Fire Department Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band. DC Fire and EMS Deputy Chief Kenneth Crosswhite welcomed the group on behalf of the department, and the invocation was administered by the Department Chaplain, Father Peter Weiss.

Tom's note: After the opening ceremonies, an apparatus photo shoot opportunity was provided at the quarters of Engine 3.

Later that afternoon, the conventioneers were bused to the waterfront, where they boarded the yacht Celebrity for a trip down the Potomac River. Not only were they escorted by DC fireboats 1 and 2, with a water display, but Alexandria Va. Fireboat 201 and Prince Georges County Md. Fireboat 858 also put on a show when the Celebrity reached the Wilson Bridge. Upon return to shore, everybody enjoyed a buffet dinner at Phillips Restaurant along the Washington Channel.

Day two featured an all day event at the DC Fire and EMS Training Academy. The group saw demonstrations that included a foam unit attack on a vehicle fire, a mock box alarm at the burn building, and a high angle rescue simulation on the drill tower by Rescue Squad 2. They were also able to view and photograph a wide array of DC apparatus. After a delicious lunch provided by the DC Fire Department BBQ team, additional apparatus was brought in from Prince Georges County and other southern Maryland departments for the attendees to admire and photograph. There was also antique apparatus on display.

Friday began with a morning trip to the Capitol Building for a guided tour.

After lunch, the group headed off to Alexandria Va. where they toured the Friendship Fire museum in Oldtown, as well as the city’s oldest active fire station, 201, and the new station 209 under construction, which features apartments built above and designed to provide affordable housing for public safety personnel.

From Alexandria, the next stop was the quarters of the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, Md. The assembly was provided with a catered dinner, and then addressed by Ron Siarnicki of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. A tour of the squad and its varied apparatus, along with additional units from the Bethesda and Chevy Chase Fire Departments, followed. Saturday saw a series of seminars, including fire photography by District Chief Chris Mickal of New Orleans, Rehab protocols by DC Fire and EMS Medical Director Dr. James Augustine, Website development by DC firefighter Chris Hebert, Museum management by FFA curator Mark Tennyson, and canteen construction by Jim Krammes and Frank Brewer. Following the seminars, the convention saw presentations by representatives of clubs hosting future conventions in 2010, 2011 and 2012, which will be in Nashville, Northern New Jersey and Toronto, respectively.

The convention culminated Saturday evening with the annual banquet, where new officers for the year were sworn in and the “Fire Buff of the Year” was named. FFA was extremely pleased that our very own Hal Bruno, who had been nominated by the Association, was the winner of the award. Despite recent ill health, Hal was able to attend and personally receive the honor, which included the presentation of a silver chief’s speaking trumpet. DC Fire and EMS Chief Dennis Rubin, the guest speaker of the evening, joined in the presentation to Hal.

In addition to all these varied events, FFA members hosted a hospitality room at the hotel, where the assembled buffs could enjoy snacks and soft drinks, swap stories, and watch fire videos. The FFA museum also opened its doors during the course of the convention, under the supervision of Curator Mark Tennyson and Vice President and DC Fire Department historian Jim Embrey. In addition, buffing trips around the city were arranged, with our guests driven around by various FFA members and in courtesy cars provided by Frank Brewer of Criswell Chevrolet.

Tom’s note: Thanks to his superior driving skills and intimate knowledge of the DC street system, Elliot Goodman was able to get a few of us to a Working Fire Assignment at 1626 17th Street, SE on August 12th, 2009 at about 2130 hours. This was the only fire that I caught during the trip.

All in all, it was a whirlwind four days enjoyed by both hosts and participants. Walter Gold and Vito Maggiolo served as co-chairs for the event, and other key players included Chris Oliphant, Mike DeWalt, Debra Hoover, Mark Tennyson, Jim Embrey, Tammy Bianchi, Elliot Goodman, Curt Elie, and Jim Sullivan. Association members Joyce Bobitz, Joe Sullivan, John Gaskins and Todd Bianchi also lent a considerable helping hand.

Tom’s note: In the wee morning hours of August 22nd, 2009 I had my good friend Chris Oliphant show me the location of the Cherry Road Fire. May 30th, 1999 Firefighter Anthony Phillips of Engine Co. 10 was killed while fighting a fire 3146 Cherry Road, NE. On May 31st, 1999 Firefighter Louis J. Matthews of Engine Co. 26 died from injuries he suffered while fighting that same fire. The photos are of a memorial that was constructed from one of DCFD’s old fire alarm boxes. Rest in peace, brothers.