Collision with Car on Fire

Submitted By Andrew Young

7/1/2008 1:43 pm

To start off a new month, in the early morning of July 1st, Wheaton's Rescue Squad 742 and Kensington's Engine 705 were dispatched to the 2600 block of Plyers Mill Rd. for a traffic collision with a car reported on fire. The Rescue Squad arrived on scene first and confirmed a three car collision with one on fire. After triaging the patients, the Squad called for Medic 742 to treat the priority 2 driver. The squad crew assisted Engine 705 in gaining access to the engine compartment and trunk, while simultaneously caring for the driver. After ensuring the fire was out and that no other individuals were injured all units cleaned up and returned to service.

C742D: A/C Erik Karlsons
RS742 crew: Lt. Mark Chite, MFF Brett Russell, FFII Aaric Wright, Observer Andrew Jacobs
M742 crew: PMIC Bonnie DeMare, PMIC Kristina Cade, EMT Ryan Curro

House Fire, Hathaway Dr.

Submitted By Andrew Young

5/10/2008 4:13 pm

Around 0500 hours on the morning of Friday, May 9, 2008 company 18 units were dispatched to the 12900 block of Hathaway Dr. for a reported electrical short. As Company 18 arrived on scene they found a single family home with heavy smoke showing from the roof and filled the box. Wheaton’s Rescue Squad 742 responded with additional units from Kensington and Hillandale. Battalion 704 had command and quickly filled the RID and requested an additional task force. RS742 arrived on the scene to find the fire had spread within the attic and was coming out of the vents on the roof. The five-man volunteer crew searched the house, cut utilities, and opened up the walls for the engine company. The search came up negative, everyone had gotten out before the fire had started. After 30 minutes of work the fire was out and crews stayed on scene for salvage and overhaul.

RS742 Crew: D/C Jacob DeGlopper, Capt. Nick Hrabak, FFII Ben Taylor, FFII Tarek Saad, FFII Andrew Young

Rockville Apartment Fire Injures 3 Firefighters, Kills One Civilian

Submitted By Andrew Young

5/5/2008 2:52 pm

Around 0100 hours on the morning of May 3, 2008, County Dispatchers filled box 23-05 for the apartment on fire in the 12800 block of Twinbrook Parkway. Rockville and Kensington units responded to the initial dispatch. Company 23 arrived on scene and reported they had heavy fire showing from multiple units on the second and third floor of the apartment complex with multiple civilians trapped. As crews went to work the rapid intervention dispatch and task force were called for bringing Wheaton's Rescue Squad 742 to the scene. As RS742 arrived on scene, several companies were operating inside of the structure confining and extinguishing the fire to make rescues by the other crews possible.

As the rapid intervention group (RIG) comprised of RS742 and Truck 25 assembled in the yard, a floor collapse inside of the structure sent three firefighters from the initial attack company missing in the fire apartment and a mayday went out over the radio. Under the direction of BC Gallo, RS742 and Truck 25 made entry into the building to attempt to locate the downed crew. Fortunately due to their own heroic efforts the missing crew self-extricated, two by jumping from a second story window and one by finding an interior exit. With the missing firefighters safely outside, RS742's crew was reassigned to look for a trapped occupant in an apartment on the third floor. Once the search of the apartment was complete and negative, the squad crew resumed their duties as part of the RIG. Company 3 units made multiple civilian rescues from the complex. Unfortunately, one civilian died on scene as a result of injuries sustained in the fire.

The three injured firefighters were transported to the burn center at Washington Hospital Center in DC with burns and injuries from their fall. The injuries sustained by the firefighters are serious, but not considered life threatening. The thoughts and prayers of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad are with those three brave firefighters and their families. We wish our brothers a speedy recovery. For more information visit the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department website.

RS742 crew: Capt. Todd Sniffin, Lt. Jon Hollen, FFIII Karla Martinez, FFIII Daniel Goltz, FFII Andrew Young, Observer Mark Reddish

Audio from the fire courtesy of DCFireFeed
News Coverage: Washington Post, NBC4, WJLA, Gazette