June 8, 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters encountered flames leaping from an apartment building in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of NW on Saturday morning, June 8th.

The blaze was located in a four story occupied apartment building at 143 W Street NW, and was reported around 10:30 AM.

Fire engulfed one apartment on the top floor and also extended into the cockloft. It was controlled with a box and working fire dispatch assignment.

Firefighters were able to rescue one very wet and smoked up cat from the fire apartment. On the human side, one firefighter suffered a non-life-threatening head injury and was transported to the hospital. All searches were negative, except for the feline.

While returning home from his tour of duty on Saturday morning, June 1st, Lieutenant Shawn Downs of Engine Company No. 4, Platoon No. 3, was involved in an accident on the South Capitol Street Bridge.

He sustained serious injuries and is expected to face a lengthy road to recovery. If any Officer is able to work a shift trade (portion or full) please contact the on-duty Platoon Commander of Engine Company No. 4.

Thank you in advance from all of the Officers and Members of "The Hornets Nest".

June 5 , 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

The largest fire to strike DC since the 2008 burning of a Mount Pleasant apartment building destroyed a Capitol Hill landmark on Wednesday evening, June 5th.

The four alarm blaze erupted just before 7 PM at Frager’s Hardware, a hill institution, established in 1920, that encompasses almost the entire odd side of the 1100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. It consisted of a several interconnected two story structures, jam packed with a high fire load of products, including propane tanks.

When firefighters arrived, a rear storage area was fully engulfed, with flames spreading in all directions. A number of employees were still in the building, but all safely evacuated.

Faced with an intense volume of fire, and the fact that the business was a warren of corridors lined with goods stacked high, a brief interior attack was quickly abandoned, and units regrouped to battle the fire from the outside.

Second and third alarms were sounded almost immediately, eventually followed by a fourth. An array of outside streams, including large hand lines, wagon and ladder pipes, and Naval District of Washington’s tower ladder, pounded away at the flames, which continued to burn heavily for several hours.

The fire produced massive clouds of smoke that could be seen throughout the city. Residents of the area were warned to keep their windows closed due to hazards associated with the burning hardware products.

As dawn rose the next morning, fire companies remained on the scene, still hitting hot spots. Two firefighters were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Friendship Fire Association, staffing the canteen, Rehab, and Rehab Support Unit, worked through the night and into the dawn hours providing refreshments and rehab to exhausted firefighters.

June 5, 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

While the fourth alarm on Capitol Hill attracted most of the attention, it was actually the third fire of the day in the nation’s capital.

While first battalion firefighters were engaged in a working fire dispatch at 2213 Bunker Hill Road NE, another box was sounded in the Third Battalion for an apartment fire at 4236 4th Street SE.

Units arrived there to find fire on the third floor. They were able to control that blaze with a box alarm assignment. Searches of the apartment proved negative.

16:34 hrs.
E-33, 25, 32, 15, T-16 & 10 BFC 3 & 2 Rescue #3.

June 3, 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

A pre-dawn fire in the Trinidad neighborhood brought a box alarm assignment to the scene on Wednesday, June 5th.

Firefighters arrived shortly after 4 AM to find fire showing from the front door of a two story apartment building at 1431 Holbrook Street NE.

As it turned out, the blaze was a small one and confined primarily to the door itself.

The cause is being investigated.

June 3, 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

A car wrapped around a light pole required extensive extrication efforts by DC firefighters on Monday morning, June 3rd.

The accident took place at 14th Street and Rhode Island Avenue N.E. around 2 AM. Rescue Squad 1 had to do a dash roll and roof removal in order to get to and remove the patient.

The victim was taken to a local trauma center with life threatening injuries.

Above Photos by Elliot J Goodman
Below Photos by Vito Maggiolo

June 1, 2013: Story by Elliot J Goodman

As Firefighters were battling the southeast fire on Wade Road, a Box Alarm was dispatched for #1 V Street N.W. Units arrived on the scene with fire showing in the rear. The fire involved a room and extended to the rear porch.

An interesting story about this fire. Engine 15 who would have been first due on the Wade Road fire, was on a medical local at that time. While then returning to their quarters from the Washington Hospital Center saw the V street fire and were dispatched on that Box Alarm.

June 1, 2013: Story By Vito Maggiolo

DC firefighters worked hand in hand with MPD to remove an apparent emotionally disturbed individual from the waters beneath New York Ave. NE on June 1st.

Units were dispatched with the Special Ops Chief for a report of a person in the Anacostia River where it runs beneath New York Avenue near the city line.

The individual was found along the shoreline, and was combative. Members of Rescue Squad 1, working with police, were able to subdue the person and raise him up to the bridge, where he was transported from the scene

Above Photos by DCFD Rescue 3
Below Photos by Elliot J Goodman

June 1, 2013: Story by Elliot J Goodman

Late Saturday afternoon DC Firefighters were dispatched for the report of a house on fire at Wade Road and Eaton Road S.E.

Upon arrival, Engine 25 reported a house fully involved extending to the exposure, a second alarm was immediately called for. Units made an aggressive attack using 2-1/2 inch handlines and wagon pipes. Firefighters did a spectacular job saving the exposure, which only received minor damage.

It was a very hot day in the 90's so the Rehab Unit got a "Warm" welcome.