Saturday August 28, 2010 as members from #4 platoon were beginning to wander into quarters to relieve the outgoing #3 platoon, Units from the 2nd & 3rd Battalion's were dispatched to 867 Adrian St, SE. Engine 30 & Truck 17 (1st due) arrived on location of a 2-story duplex with smoke showing. Engine 30's crew gained entry and as they were advancing up the stairs found a citizen with a garden hose attempting to knock down the fire. As the crew was extinguishing the fire, Truck 17 vented horizontally, conducted a primary search and handled Utilities. 2 residents were treated on the scene by Ambulance 30.

Thursday August 19th as members from #3 platoon were sitting down for lunch, Engine 30 & Truck 17 were dispatched for the 1st due apartment fire at 136 Kenilworth Ave, NE. Units from the Heights arrived on the scene of a 3-story apartment building with smoke showing. Engine 30 stretched the 200' crosslay and found a room off in a 1st floor apartment which was quickly knocked down. Truck 17 vented, searched, and handled utilities.

At 0153 hours on July 31, 2010, Engine 30 (2nd due) & Truck 17 (1st due) were alerted for the house fire in the 1100 blk of 50 PL, NE. As Engine 27 was arriving on Side "A" with smoke showing, Engine 30 was extending the 200' crosslay down the alley with fire showing from the rear. Several outside fires were located in the rear yard and against the house. As Engine 30 was extinguishing all visible fire, Engine 27 located an unconscious person inside the residence and was safely removed. The crew from Truck 17 vented vertically and laterally, opened up, handled Utilities and threw several ground ladders. Within 25 minutes, the Box was held to 1 & 1.

Just after 1am units from The East End along with other units in the Second and Third Battalion were dispatched to 6227 Clay St. NE for a report of fire coming from the home. Engine 30 and Truck 17 arrived on the scene of a 2 story brick rowhome with smoke showing. Engine 30’s crew quickly stretched the 1 ½” preconnected handline and made there way to the building. Truck 17s interior crew forced entry into the building as the exterior team threw ladders and ventilated. The interior crew located a fire on the first floor involving the kitchen and coming out into the dinning room. Engine 30’s crew advanced their attack line to begin knocking down the fire. As the fire was being knocked down Truck 17’s interior crew of Firefighter Brian Stolle (Barman) and Sgt. Matt Imbach (OIC) moved to the second floor to complete a rapid primary search. During the search in zero visibility, FF Stolle located an unconscious victim on the floor of a bedroom. The member advised command of the discovery and the interior crew along with the OIC of Engine 30 removed the victim down the interior stair to Ambulance 30. With the Engine crew completely knocking down the fire, other members of Truck 17 not involved in the rescue made their way to the second floor to complete the primary search, which proved negative. The victim was transported by Ambulance 30 to a local hospital and is expected to survive. After about 10 minutes command held the units from the East End to await investigators.    

Photos by DCfire.com

In the July 2010 issue of Firehouse Magazine, the annual National Run Survey recognized the Nations busiest departments, ladder and engines companies. The tireless nights and abuse dealt to the members of Truck Company 17 and the rest of the East End were recognized as Truck 17 was ranked the 3rd busiest ladder company in the United States. Truck 17 responded on 4229 runs in 2009, responding from the same firehouse as Engine 30, which recorded another 6000+ calls. This brought the total calls for just the Engine and the Truck from the East End to well over 10,000 runs. Can’t wait to see what 2010 brings.   

This past month marked a truly remarkable journey for Lt Mike Kefauver. On June 9, 1980, Kefauver was appointed to the DCFD. He began his career (and many memorable years) at Truck 6. Through his career and promotions he has been assigned to different stations. For the past two years, he has fortunately resided as the Lieutenant of Truck 17 # 3. On June 9, 2010, he celebrated 30 years with DCFD.

To celebrate, the members of Engine 30/Truck 17 joined together for an excellent meal as well as the presentation of a plaque that was purchased for Kefauver. In attendance were all the members, Assistant Chief Al Jeffery, Deputy Chief Paul Jones, Battalion Chief Larry Anderson, Lieutenant Desautels, Captain Battle, Sergeant Spielman, etc. Only 3 members remain on the job that were in Kefauver's appointed class: Assistant Chief Jeffery, Lieutenant Desautels and Lieutenant Kefauver.

Congratulations!!!!!

Shortly after 2am, Engine 30 and 17 Truck were alereted for a house fire 2 blocks away in the 4600 block of Central Ave NE.  Units from The Heights went on scene of a one-story dwelling with fire showing from the first floor.  Engine 30 advanced the crosslay and got a quick knock on the fire while T-17 ventilated, conducted searches, and controlled utilities.  

 



One firefighter from Engine 30 was transported to the burn center at the Washington Hospital Center with burns to his hand.  Members from The Heights wish him a speedy recovery.

 

Shortly before 2100 hours, Truck 17, Engine 27, and Rescue 3 were sent to the 5200 blk of East Capitol St N.E. for a reported automobile accident with one trapped. Truck 17 arrived on scene with Engine 27 to find a single car accident with two occupants trapped inside of the vehicle. With the Squad coming from a distance, the crew of Truck 17 ran lights to all four sides of the vehicle, blocked traffic, and began stabilization of the vehicle with the cribbing carried on the Truck Company while Engine 27 began patient care and manned a safety line. Truck 17 utilized “The East End Saw-Zall” to cut the windshield in preparation for a roof flap while the Squad removed the doors and posts. Both patients were extricated and transported to local Trauma Centers. Battalion 2 had command.

At 1732 hrs Truck Company 17 was alerted as the first responder along with Paramedic Engine 30 for the report of a person having trouble breathing at 800 Kenilworth Ave NE. The brave members responded on the run and reported to the calling apartment to administer emergency medical care. EMS units arrived a short time later and the patient was transferred down the elevator and out to the EMS unit. Once the patient was in the back of the unit, crews were preparing to pick up when they heard the squeal of tires. A high speed chase between a vehicle and multiple police officers was making its way from the Kenilworth Service Roadway and at the last second the driver cut it sharply towards the firefighters. The car barreled down the sidewalk towards the Officers of both the Engine and the Truck. The Truck driver was unable to warn the officers due to the speeding police presence on both sides of the ladder company. Firefighter Harris yelled out to the men to watch out. The officers turned just in time to jump out of the way as the speeding car barely missed them on his way down the sidewalk. The car then drove through some bushes that were concealing a large curb, blowing out a tire and sending rubber and smoke into the air. This did not slow down the assailants get away as he continued on his journey with the officers hot in pursuit. The man was caught a short time later. If not for the quick thinking of Firefighter Harris this situation could have surely turned tragic. Unfortunately its just another day for the members of The East End.         

Just after 0130 hrs, units with the 2nd and 3rd Battalion were alerted for a reported apartment building on fire at 835 51st St. SE. Engine 30 and Truck 17 arrived first due to a 2 story brick apartment building with smoke showing. The Engine crew stretched their 1 ½ attack line into the building as the Truck threw ground ladders and preformed a quick primary search. Units found a fire in a 2nd floor apartment and made quick work of it. Command held the units from the East End to finish opening up and assisting investigators. While operating on this call the working fire dispatch was sounded for 4087 Minnesota Ave NE for a fire in the apartment, which units also quickly controlled.

At 1828 hrs units with the 2nd Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for the report of a house on fire at 5862 Southern Ave. SE. Engine 30 responded as the first due Engine along with Truck 17 as the first due Truck. As soon as the members turned left onto East Capital St. it was apparent that something was on fire. As Truck 17 approached the scene they could see through a now vacant lot to find smoke showing from both the front and rear of a rowhome. Units arrived on the scene of a 2 story middle of the row home with smoke showing from the C-Charlie side and fire showing from the A-Alpha side. Due to the nature of the complex the C side provided the best access for both units. Engine 30 stretched the 1 ½ attack line into the building as Trucks interior crew made their way to the second floor to conduct a rapid primary search. Multiple bystanders were reporting that their where children inside the home. 17 Trucks outside team went to work throwing ladders and immediately ventilating the structure. Smoke was issuing from the eves of both exposures and the team knew the fire building needed to be opened up as the fire was probably in the cockloft. The interior teams were met by the fire at the top of the stairs, Engine 30 pushed forward to knock down the fire as Truck 17 members rapidly searched those areas not immediately involved in fire. All searches proved negative as the fire was knocked down. Truck 17 along with Truck 13 opened the roof on the fire building and both exposures, finding some extension through breaks in the fire walls between buildings. Command held Engine 30 and both Trucks to assist investigators in overhaul. Engine 30’s lineman received a few gentle kisses from the fire gods and was transported Med Star. He was later released and will recover. Welcome to The East End rookie.  

At 1242 hrs units with the 2nd Battalion were alerted for a report of a large volume of smoke in the area of 295 and Benning Road NE. Engines 27, 30 and 8 responded along with Truck 17 on the run. As The East End units crossed over the Benning Rd bridge they could see a fire burning between 295 and the CSX tracks. Repositioning on 295 Engine 30 and Truck 17 found a large pile of debris including railroad ties burning on both sides of the tracks. Train traffic in the area was stopped and lookouts assigned as the crews worked on the fire. With the fire knocked down the units returned to service. A few short hours later Engine 30 was alerted for the A-alpha injury on a playground at 62nd and Banks Place NE. The Engine crew arrived to find a child that had become trapped in a swing set. The crew worked quickly and efficiently to remove the child from the swing however was still trapped in the harness. Utilizing the special “Hakim” tool the members were able to disassemble the harness and the girl was unharmed. I wonder what the rest of the day will bring from the members of The East End.            

Just after mid day multiple calls came into OUC reporting a building on fire at Eastern High School. One look down East Capital Street let the members of “The Heights” know that it was indeed a working fire. First arriving units found smoke from the roof of the 4 story educational facility under renovation. Interior crews encountered scaffolding and other obstacles in the hallways as they made their way to the top floor. The second alarm was requested bringing 30 Engine to the fireground. Engine 30 was assigned to assist the attack group as units made quick work of the fire involving decking material on the roof. Despite the fire being just blocks outside of Truck 17’s first due they were not dispatched as the working fire truck or the 3 trucks on the second alarm, however they did hold an observation point from a safe location within their first due. 

Pics by DCFD.com     

Come out and join the festivities as The DC Generals Police and Fire Football team take on the Orlando Guardians in full contact football to benefit several charities including the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation. The game will be held at Fairfax High School (http://www.fairfaxhighsports.org/) in Fairfax, Virginia. The gates will open at 3:30pm for fans and Kick Off is at 4:30pm. There will be lots of fun stuff for the fans including a Firefighter Pipes and Drums performance and many displays. There will also be a special presentation to the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation at half time. Tickets will be available at the game. Please come out and show your support for the DC Generals and their charities. Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax, VA 22030.

 
If you can’t make it out to the game you can listen live to the internet broadcast at http://www.dcgeneralsfootball.org/fullstory.php?105393
 
For more information on the team and it’s charities visit www.DCGeneralsFootball.org