WASHINGTON, DC & PHILADELPHIA, PA

DC Fire Department special operations personnel assisted by other units, worked to shore and secure a home hit by a vehicle Thursday evening, June 14th, 2011. The incident took place in the Georgetown area at 1503 28th Street, NW. The vehicle ran into the lower level of a row dwelling. Although there were no injuries, the building suffered structural damage. Dispatched to assist the motor vehicle accident assignment initially assigned, the Special Operations Battalion Chief saw the need for additional resources and requested the cave-in task force. Firefighters spent over two hours making the structure safe.

In the early evening of June 15th, 2012, DC Firefighters were dispatched to 443 15th Street, NE for the report of a house on fire with occupants trapped. Upon arrival, first due Engine 10 and Truck 13 encountered heavy fire showing from the second floor of a middle of the row home, with extension into the roof line. A Working Fire Dispatched was requested as one victim was removed from the building. An aggressive interior attack resulted in the fire being controlled in about 15 minutes. An adult male was transported Priority 1 by Ambulance 18 and Medic 30.

The Second Alarmers of the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) took delivery of their new Rapid Response Vehicle (SA-5), a canteen unit used to provide rehab services to the members of the PFD. On Saturday, June 16th, 2012 a dedication and housing ceremony for this new rig took place at the home of PFD’s Engine 7 and Ladder 10, located at the intersection of Kensington & Castor. A memorial emblem that had been designed for SA-5 was dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney. Both Neary and Sweeney, assigned to Ladder 10, were killed in the Line of Duty on April 9th, 2012. The unveiling of the memorial was conducted by the Neary and Sweeney families. The Philadelphia Second Alarmers were formed in 1921, with the mission of providing rehab services to the Philadelphia Fire Department.

On June 29th, 2012, as a severe thunderstorm slammed into the DC Metro area, DCFD units were dispatched to a Box Alarm at 117 New York Avenue, NW for a report of a fire on the second floor of a 3 story row home. As the lightning, rain, and winds kept fire units running all over the city, a Working Fire Dispatch was sounded for this incident at 23:26 hours. Actions taken by responding firefighters resulted in the fire being placed under control at 00:09 hours.

On Friday night June 29th, 2012 the DC Metro Area was hit with a severe thunderstorm. This storm, which began pushing through the area at about 22:30 hours was described as a "Derecho," which is a very strong, widespread, and straight-line band of thunderstorms that mostly occur during the summer months. Although a “Derecho” can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed along a relatively straight swath.

The storm forced the District of Columbia to declare a State of Emergency on Saturday June 30th. Aside from responding to incidents during the height of the storm; the next day Firefighters were tasked with handling a massive amount of downed trees and power lines, all types of fires, and hundreds of Emergency Medical responses and Public Service Calls, with high temperatures and humidity in the 90% range. Over the weekend the DCFD Rehab Unit, staffed by members of the Friendship Fire Association (FFA) was utilized to provide support during the heat wave and storm. A spectacular job was performed by all the DC Firefighters and EMS personnel who weathered these extreme conditions, as well as the hard working members of the FFA.

There were approximately 63,000 customers without power in DC. DC DOT reported numerous intersections that had traffic signals flashing or completely out. There were an estimated 500 trees brought down by the storm, along with thousands of branches that dropped power lines, blocked streets , damaged homes, and trapped residents in houses. One man was killed Friday night when he was electrocuted outside his home on Woodland Drive, NW. Officials say he went outside after a power line fell on his vehicle, igniting a fire about 23:15 hours. He apparently didn't realize the wires were still energized. He was shocked, collapsed, and died at the scene.