A busy week for HVFD crews between September 7 and 12 included two two-alarm fires, three working extrications and a serious pedestrian struck incident among numerous other calls during the period.
SEPT 7 — Rescue Squad 1 operated at the scene of a fatal accident with entrapment on the Capital Beltway near Arena Drive in Landover. Browse more information and photos from that incident here.
SEPT 8 — Rescue Squad 1 operated at the Baltimore Washington Pkwy at Annapolis Road in Bladensburg for reported one trapped and one ejected. Battalion Chief 4 had the Command and Chief 1A (Leonard) managed the Extrication Group. The trapped victim was extricated and both were transported to area trauma centers.
SEPT 8 — At the department’s monthly Company Meeting, the HVFD presented outgoing Deputy Chief Matthew Leonard with a commemorative helmet and the Board of Directors later conveyed Life Membership to Matt, who is leaving us to take a new position with the Department of Justice. Matt’s service over the last decade on a range of roles from bunkroom proctor to Deputy Chief has been invaluable and his presence will be missed. Captain Lee McCarthy also announced he is moving out of the area to take a new position in Minneapolis. Lee served as the department’s safety officer among several roles and he too will be missed. Former Assistant Chief Mitch Kannry has been promoted to Deputy Chief. The Department would also like to thank ATI Physical Therapy for supporting our volunteers with a pizza dinner.
SEPT 10 — Truck 1 operated on second alarm to 6813 Riverdale Road in Co. 13’s area. Units were initially dispatched at about 11:15 a.m. and had heavy fire conditions running the pipe chase in an apartment building. Full details on the incident can be found on the PGFD PIO blog.
SEPT 10 — Rescue Squad 1 was dispatched to Chillum Road & 19th Avenue in Co. 44’s area for a vehicle accident with reported entrapment at about 6:42pm. Paramedic Engine 844 arrived to confirm the driver trapped. Squad 1 arrived and quickly completed a side removal on the driver’s side. The patient was transported to an area hospital.
SEPT 11 — Truck 1 and the Ambulance responded to the Mall at Prince George’s for a reported person struck by a vehicle, 3500 East West Highway, with Medic 844. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
SEPT 12 — Rescue Squad 1 operated at 8437 12th Avenue in Adelphi on the shed fire in Co. 34’s area.
SEPT 12 — Truck 1 was among the first units to arrive on the first alarm in the 5400 block of Doris Court in Bladensburg for the townhouse fire. Over 30 residents were displaced. First arriving firefighters arrived and found a middle of the row 3-story townhouse with smoke and fire showing. A Second Alarm was sounded bringing over 80 firefighters and paramedics to the scene. It required about 40 minutes to knock down the fire, which left four town homes with significant fire damage. It appears the fire started on the rear deck of one of the townhouses and extended up the rear exterior wall and into the roof area. The fire extended vertically via the attics. An outdoor barbecue grill was in use on the wooden deck when the fire started. Truck 1’s crew went to Side Charlie, splitting the crew to search the interior and also throw seven ground ladders to three sides of the building. Fire loss is estimated at $750,000. More information on this incident can be found on the PGFD PIO Blog.
SEPT 13 — HVFD Paramedic Ivan Lawit and EMT Justin Kirby ran 14 ALS & BLS responses during their 24-hour Paramedic Ambulance shift over the weekend. Several members are currently going through the year-long Paramedic certification process with the County and others are getting started taking Paramedic courses. They join nearly a dozen new EMTs this year and nearly 10 more new members currently in EMT class, as we continue to expand our EMS program.
SEPT 13 — The HVFD sponsoned two members to take part in the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at National Harbor to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Browse photos and get the details here.
