Archives- August 2007

August 30, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

A dump truck that lost its brakes and careened out of control left a path of destruction in Anacostia on Thursday, August 30th.

Miraculously, only the truck driver suffered minor injuries, Despite the fact that the accident occurred at the busy intersection of King Avenue
and Chicago Street S.E. during rush hour.

The vehicle's brakes apparently failed as it came down the steep incline on Morris Road. Picking up speed, it roared thru an intersection normally filled with traffic and pedestrians, striking only one car who's occupant saw it coming and lept to safety. The truck driver also jumped for his life from his cab.

Amazingly, the vehicle continued forward at high speed into an alley, narrowly missing adjacent buildings, but striking at least one parked car and ripping down a heavy wrought iron fence and other obstacles. Continuing to crush the cars previously in its path, it than struck and demolished a large shed and overturned a few feet from several homes.

Despite the swath of destruction that included the shed and three vehicles, there was no damage to any occupied structures. A search of
the debris proved negative, but firefighters did have to contend with the truck's leaking diesel saddle tank. A full cave-in assignment was dispatched to the scene.

August 28, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

A woman had to be extricated after overturning her vehicle in the Shaw neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, August 28th.

Firefighters arrived at North Capital Street and Florida Avenue around 3 PM to find one vehicle on its side with a person still inside. Rescue Squad 1 removed the roof in order to safely access and free the trapped patient.

She was transported by EMS to a local trauma center.

August 26, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

It was a frantic evening for D.C. firefighters as a series of incidents in the Metro subway system sent them racing from station to station on Sunday, August 26th.

The first incident began shortly before 6 PM as a metro tunnel box for smoke between the Mt. Vernon and Shaw-Cardozo stations. Units entered the tunnel to find a smoldering insulator, and quickly controlled the situation.

About an hour later, another tunnel box was dispatched for smoke between the Farragut North and Dupont Circle stations on the Red Line. Firefighters found a moderate smoke condition in the Farragut North station, and eventually encountered a burning insulator in the tunnel to the north. It was quickly extinguished.

As some companies were still operating at this box, another call was received for smoke on a train at the Farragut West station. Firefighters there investigated an odor of smoke in several subway cars, but could find no active fire.

All units were still committed to this call when yet another box was sounded for smoke in the station at Foggy Bottom. Arlington County also dispatched an assignment for their end of the tunnel, and both jurisdictions coordinated their efforts. The source of that smoke condition was never determined.

August 26, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

D.C. firefighters battled a hot and smokey blaze in a Fourth Battalion apartment building on Sunday afternoon, August 26th.

Units responding on a box alarm found heavy smoke pushing from the basement of the three story, occupied apartment building at 5509 9th Street N.W. A Working Fire Dispatch was quickly sounded.

There was heavy fire involving a large room, with some initial access problems. The entire building was also filled with dense, acrid smoke, requiring an extensive primary and secondary search of all apartments. One occupant was found in the basement and removed into the hands of EMS for treatment.

The fire did extend into a first floor apartment via the walls before finally being declared under control.

August 23, 2007 by John Mullen

Dispatched for the house fire shortly after 21:00 hours at 89 K St. Northwest.

Firefighters found light  smoking coming from this two-story apartment style townhouse.  A small fire was found and  quickly extinguished on the first floor.  The home was charged with light smoke on the first and second floors.

Firefighters quickly searched the house and removed a small child to safety from a second floor bedroom.

Box: Engines 3-2-16-10-13, Truck 4, Tower 3, BFC 6 & Squad 1.

August 23, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

A 911 call from an apartment building at 5616 13^th Street, NW brought a box and working fire dispatch at 4:18 PM on August 23^rd.  When first responders arrived, they found heavy smoke on three levels of the four-story, brick building.

Quick work on the interior brought the fire under control within 40 minutes – with no injuries to either civilians or firefighters.  The cause of this fire, which caused $150,000 in damage, is electrical in nature.

August 22, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Battalion 3 units responded at 4:10 PM on August 22^nd for the report of the motor vehicle accident at I-295 and South Capitol Street. 

Truck 8 and Ambulance 25 found the accident South bound on I-295 – a badly damaged passenger car with at least one seriously injured patient.  No one was trapped, but firefighters and EMS providers set to work treating two injured people. 

One woman, the driver of the vehicle, sustained a potentially serious head injury.  A young female passenger was also transported for observation.  MPD was investigating.

August 21, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

DC Fire & EMS responded at 7:58 AM for what was initially described as a confined space rescue.  When units arrived, they found two construction workers who had been injured by a falling steel beam. 

The beam was being lowered by a crane into the open construction pit when it broke free and fell a short distance, striking one man in the head and the other across the back.  Both men then fell off a ladder on which they were working and fell 10 feet onto other construction materials.

Utilizing two rescue squads, the special operations division coordinated a crane and stokes rescue of both patients.  Both men were secured in a stokes basket – then, using an on-scene crane, raised up to the street level, where they were treated and then transported to GW Hospital.  Their injuries were thought to be serious but not life-threatening.  OSHA was investigating the accident.

August 20, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

An apparent lightning strike ignited a ferocious blaze that severely damaged a Spring Valley townhouse on Monday morning, August 20th.

Firefighters recall hearing a fearsome thunderclap that shook their quarters not long before the box alarm was sounded for 5316 McArthur Boulevard N.W. They arrived to find flames engulfing the attic of the two-story townhome, as well as posing a threat to attached exposures. A second alarm was sounded to help deal with the dire conditions.

Numerous handlines were brought into play to fight the fire and protect exposures. The blaze was extinguished without injuries, but not before
the roof was almost completely burned away. The rest of the home was also heavily damaged.

	Related VIdeo Shot By Alan Etter Related Video on Youtube (Warning Explicit Language and Images)

August 18, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Additional Photos Courtesy of Jarrid Gaston F.F.A.

Fire & EMS responded at 11:41 AM for the apartment fire with reports of people trapped – 801 Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest.  When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke showing from the top floor of the eight-story building.  They also saw an adult male hanging from the window on side “A”.  Tower 3 positioned their ladder to the eighth floor.  Firefighters Brian McAllister and Harry Saval secured the patient and began treatment as the platform was lowered to the street.  There, the 38-year-old patient was transferred to the care of EMS and was transported to the Washington Hospital Center.  His injuries were described as critical, with third degree burns to 75% of his body.  He also suffered severe smoke inhalation and tracheal burns.

Fire suppression units were able to extinguish the fire quickly.  One firefighter was transported after overexerting himself on the fireground.  He was treated and released.

Box Alarm- E9-12-16-11-1, T4, TL3, BFC6, RS2

WFD- E21, T6, BFC1, Air1, Safety Officer, Deputy Fire Chief

August 18, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

August 16, 2007 by Vito Maggiolo

August 10, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Units responded with Battalion 3 at 12:38 PM on August 10th for the report of an apartment fire in the 300 block of Parkland Place, Southeast – just off Malcom X. Avenue.

Engine 25 arrived first to find fire showing from side “B” of the two story apartment building located at 357 Parkland Pl. S.E..  A fast entry found two rooms off on the first floor with some extension to the second.  The fire was extinguished quickly with no injuries to either civilians or firefighters.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

August 10, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Units responded with Battalion 4 at 3:01 AM for the report of fire coming from the basement of the rowhouse in the 400 block of Newton Pl., NW.

Engine 11 and Truck 6 arrived to find heavy smoke in the block and heavy fire in the basement of 447 Newton Place.  Firefighters mounted an aggressive interior attack and knocked the fire down quickly with no injuries to civilians.  Unfortunately, two firefighters suffered first and second degree burns, Engine 11's lineman sustained 2nd degree burns to knees, wrist, ears and forehead. Engine 9's lineman sustained 2nd degree burns to one foot.

Both were transported to the Washington Hospital Center where they were treated and released.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Box Alarm: E-11-9-4-24-14, T-6 & 9 ,BFC4, RS-2.

August 9, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

A fully involved garage brought a Box and working fire dispatch to an area around 4^th and Peabody Streets, Northwest Thursday morning. 

Units responded with Battalion 4 at 11:38 AM for what was reported to be a garage on fire.  Engine 24 arrived first to find heavy fire that had consumed a 12’X24’ garage, a vehicle parked outside, and a fence surrounding the structure.

Though the blazing fire gutted the small structure, and destroyed an auto parked outside, there were no injuries.  The cause is under investigation.

August 3, 2007 by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

An approximately 35 year old crane operator had a medical episode while operating the machine 30 feet above the 12th floor of a building under construction - 1050 15th St., NW. 

Fire & EMS responded at 10:46 AM with a high-angle rescue operation that resulted in the approximately 350 pound man being secured in a stokes basket and lowered to the ground, where he was treated by EMS and transported to a hospital for further treatment.  His condition was said to be serious but not life-threatening.

FEMS utilized Rescue Squads 1 and 3 along with Engine 16 & Tower 3 to coordinate a rope and pulley system adequate to lower the man to the ground.  The nature of his medical emergency was unknown.

As some companies were still operating at this box, another call was received for smoke on a train at the Farragut West station. Firefighters there investigated an odor of smoke in several subway cars, but could find no active fire.

All units were still committed to this call when yet another box was sounded for smoke in the station at Foggy Bottom. Arlington County also dispatched an assignment for their end of the tunnel, and both jurisdictions coordinated their efforts. The source of that smoke condition was never determined.