ENGINE 30 RESCUES ONE FROM SOUTHEAST APARTMENT FIRE: 3900 D STREET SE
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 20:00
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DC Police with the help of DC Fire Investigators arrested 32-year-old male and charged him with arson after setting his girlfriend's southeast apartment on fire. Before they could arrest him, firefighters had to rescue him from the burning apartment.
In the late evening hours, the Second and Third Battalions were alerted about smoke in the apartment building at 3900 D St. SE. Engine 30 arrived on the scene of a 4 story garden apartment building with smoke showing from the top floor and a person in the window. As the crew advanced, the 1 ½" attack line to the fourth floor the officer relayed to incoming Truck Companies that a victim was trapped in a fourth floor apartment. As Engine 30 tried to gain entry into the burning apartment they were met with a large pile of debris that had been stacked behind the door. With fire conditions and heavy smoke seeping from the door the crew managed to force their way into the burning apartment. Once inside the crew found a large pile of furniture and the living room on fire.
The Lineman (F/F Santos) quickly knocked down the fire as the officer (Lt. Kuhn) and layout man (F/F Hoagland) began ventilation. The lineman worked his way to the back bedroom and located an unconscious victim inside the room. As the layout man continued with hydraulic ventilation the lineman with the help of the engine officer removed the victim from the apartment and passed him to awaiting firefighters in the interior stairwell. As the victim was taken to the EMS units on the scene (Ambulance 30), the crew from 30 Engine returned to the hoseline and continued the job. The remainder of searches proved to be negative. Ambulance 30 was able to revive the unconscious victim who was then transported to an area hospital.
