FIREHOUSE DESTROYS THE RESCUE SQUAD IN FOOTBALL GAME

April 30 2006 - With not much more than the usual day to day runs going on in Manassas lately,  the Volunteers took advantage of the nice weather this past weekend to answer
 the challenge of a football game from our brothers down the street at the Rescue Squad. 15 volunteers, along with members from the auxiliary, family, friends and a special guest from the neighborhood, "Santos", got together for the game. It started off tackle but six plays later, and once the ambulance had left, it went to two hand touch.  Trey, we know your daddy was the “Fridge” but you were playing the Rescue Squad bro. Anyway, Ambulance 501 was requested to tend to one of there own with a broken ankle. The rest of the game went without injury. Final score: Firehouse a lot, Rescue Squad 7.
    Along with the game, the Volunteers managed to stay busy over the weekend answering 15 runs on Friday alone, with a total of 30 for the weekend. The runs consisted of the usual assortment of calls, with the only major incident being a motorcycle into a tree around 2100 hours Friday night. Engine 501 and the Tower Ladder responded to the Old Dominion Raceway to assist Co. 7 (Lake Jackson). The Tower was not needed but ending up sticking around to help land the helicopter which transported the victim to a local Trauma Center.
    Tower 501 spent the majority of Sunday being the closest staffed Ladder Truck  to the east end of the County and answered several needless box alarms on that side of the county.

CAR GETS REAR ENDED INTO AND UNDER FLATBED TRUCK

April 28 2006 - At 1422 hrs, Engine, Tower, and Chief 501 responded to the Prince William County Parkway at Liberia Avenue for a motor vehicle accident with the report of trapped victims. On arrival, crews from Company 1 found a passenger vehicle that had been rear ended and pushed up under the rear of a flatbed truck. The driver had only minor injuries. The Engine Company assisted with patient care while the Tower handled the hazards. Units went ready at 1511.

ONE FLOWN AFTER HEAD ON CRASH

April 21 2006 - At 1340 hrs, Engine 501 was sent out for a personal injury accident at the intersection of Wellington Road and Godwin Drive. On arrival, crews found a two vehicle head on crash with multiple patients. The crew from the Engine assisted with patient care and managed the hazards. Medic 501A reported they had a patient with head trauma and requested a fly out. At that point, Foam Engine 501 was added to handle the LZ. Medic 501B transported with two BLS patients. The Foam Engine landed Aircare 2 without incident and the priority patient was flown to a local trauma center. Units went ready at 1426 hrs.

ENGINE RUNS SMALL FIRE IN NOKESVILLE

April 20 2006 - Just after midnight, the silence of the County radio was broken by a priority message from Medic 555. They reported a house fire at 9817 Lucky Penny Drive and requested the full assignment brining Engine 501 third due on the box. The crew from Engine 525 arrived and ran a line into the garage to extinguish the fire. Engine 501 was ordered to complete a secondary search of the second floor. They encountered moderate smoke conditions and ventilated as they searched. The crew from 501 removed to pets from the home and went ready at 0048 hrs.

Box Alarm: E525, E505, E501, TL525, C525, BC501, AC501

MEMBERS ADD A LITTLE PRIDE TO THE TOWER

April 18 2006 - Always in search of different ways to show our company pride, the other day members mounted a sign on the back of the Tower. Looking for something completely original, the artwork and sign board where entirely designed and mounted in house.

CREWS FIND HEAVY FIRE IN LOCAL IHOP ATTIC

April 14 2006 - At 0837 hrs, Manassas City Fire Communications transmitted box 81-03 for smoke in the building at 8785 Centreville Road, the Manassas IHOP. Engine and Tower 501 arrived to find light smoke showing from the roof peaks. Engine 501 ran an 1 1/2 through the front door along with two men from the Tower and found smoke conditions banked down half way in the eating area. Three employees were found still inside the restaurant and were escorted out. At the same time, the outside crew from the Tower quickly made their way to the roof to begin ventilation. The crews from the Engine and Tower made their way into the kitchen and encountered heavy black smoke conditions. As they masked up and began popping ceiling tiles, they were joined by the crew from Wagon 509. Engine 501's officer transmitted to command a working fire in the attic. With all box alarm companies going to work and based on the conditions seen outside by the Chief, a second alarm was called for. As crews inside pulled the ceiling, conditions began deteriorating rapidly. Heavy black smoke was now banked down to the floor and a large amount of fire was visible rolling across the attic. As the lineman from Engine 501 climbed up on the counter top and opened his pipe, part of the drop ceiling, electrical wiring and melted flex duct came down on the Engine and Tower's crews entangling them. They cut their way out and continued to hit the fire. The Engine officer grabbed an attic ladder allowing the lineman from 501 to get further into the attic. Simultaneously, the Tower's roof crew, along with Foam Engine 501, were making good progress on several vent holes, releasing a large amount of smoke. Wagons 508 and 511 arrived and pulled lines to back up Engine 501. With Engine 501's lineman now in the attic, he made quick work of the fire. Engine 501 was established as division 1 with themselves, Wagons 509 and 511, Truck 511, and teams from Tower and Rescue 501. Other teams from Tower, Foam Engine, and Rescue 501 continued to cut several more holes in the roof. Crews inside pulled more ceiling checking for extension and horizontally vented, to removed the large amount of trapped smoke in the eating and kitchen areas so companies could see. Crews found small amounts of extension in numerous void spaces throughout the attic. It appeared the fire had been burning for awhile as there was heavy charring all over the attic. The crew from Quint 509 assisted with opening up more holes in the roof to check for extension. Wagon 516 was established as the RIT company. The majority of the second alarm was staged and not utilized. The fire is believed to have started in a light fixture in the kitchen ceiling. Chief 501 (Holman) had the command. Units from the City cleared at 1030 hrs.

Box Alarm: E501, W509, W508, W511, TL501, Q509, R501, C501, BC504

Second Alarm: FE501, W516, W507, W506, T511, TL513, R504, Rehab 501, Safety 503

ENGINE AND TOWER FIND SMALL FIRE AFTER LIGHTNING STRIKE

April 13 2006 - At 1349 hrs, just after a brief thunder storm blew through the Manassas area, the box was transmitted for 10946 Thistlewood Court, in the Lake Jackson section of the County. The alarm brought Engine 501 as the second due engine, the Tower and the Chief with 10 men. Engine 501 arrived first, laid out, and gave an initial report of light smoke coming from the roof line. As the Tower arrived soon after, fire was visible from the gable end. The Tower rapidly forced the door and Engine 501 ran their line to the second floor. The ceiling directly below the fire was immediately pulled, exposing a small fire which was quickly extinguished. Crews from Company 1 made their way into the attic and onto the roof to open up and check for extension. With none found and not much left to do, Wagons 507 and 516 remained on scene briefly to assist with salvage and overhaul, and helped us pack hose, which we greatly appreciate. The cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike. Chief 501 (Holman) had the command. The units from Company 1 cleared at 1437 hrs.

Box Alarm: W507, E501, W516, T501, BC504, C501

SERIOUS CRASH YIELDS MINOR INJURIES

April 12 2006 - As the men from Company 1 were sitting down to dinner, City Fire Communications alerted Engine and Tower 501 to a head on crash at Nokesville and Wellington Roads. Along with units from the Rescue station, they arrived to find two vehicles with serious damage. Neither of the occupants of either vehicle were trapped and only one required medical attention for a laceration to the face. The Engine and Tower took care of the hazards and went ready at within 15 minutes.

ANOTHER SECOND ALARM IN GAINESVILLE

April 11 2006 - Around 1600 hrs, a box alarm was sounded for a house fire at 7906 Old Carolina Road in Gainesville section of the County. Engine 504, normally first due, was on an auto fire on interstate 66 with Wagon 511. This made Engine 515 first due. They arrived with Rescue Squad 504 and found two buildings, a hodgepodge of old cars, tires, scrap, and brush on fire. A second alarm was requested bringing Engine, Tower, and Chief 501 from the City. As those companies were leaving the City, they could see a large column of smoke way off in the distance. Engine 501 was ordered to be the fill site pumper. They arrived with Wagon 511 at the site and assisted 511’s crew. The Tower and Chief arrived at the scene and were ordered to stage. By this time, companies from the County had multiple lines in service and though the fire was still burning strong, they were making good progress. At the same time, Foam Engine 501 was dispatched just down the street for a dumpster fire. They responded but were placed in service by the mini pumper from 504. The Foam Engine was added to the second alarm but with not much need for additional crews, Engine, Foam Engine, Tower, and Chief 501 were released along with the majority of the second alarm. City units cleared the call within 30 minutes.

PATIENT FLOWN AFTER HEAD ON CRASH

April 10 2006 - At 1603 hrs, Engine 501 was sent out for a personal injury accident in the 8700 block of Centreville Road. Two minutes later, City Fire Communications dispatched units to a second accident at 8358 Stonewall Road. Chief 501, who was just down the street arrived at Stonewall and Weems to find a pick up truck that had hit several parked cars, went airborne, and slammed into a tree head on. Realizing the driver was trapped and seriously injured, he requested the rescue assignment. Tower and Rescue 501 arrived together and quickly went to work removing the door. Medic 501, who was providing patient care, had the chief request a helicopter. The patient, who had temporarily lost consciousness, was suffering from among other things, an open femur fracture. The men from Rescue 1 quickly removed the door. The Tower then helped place the patient on a backboard and loaded him into the unit. With Engine 501 still tied up on the other accident, Wagon 509 was requested to handle the LZ. The Tower went ready at 1620 hrs.

CREWS FROM THE CITY ON SECOND FIRE OF THE DAY

April 2 2006 - At 1556 hrs, Wagon 501 was dispatched along with Wagon and Truck 511 on mutual box 11-11 for an automatic fire alarm at the TGI Friday's restaurant located at 7401 Sudley Road. Almost immediately, County Fire Communications upgraded the assignment to a building fire at that box location. Crews from 511 went on the scene with smoke showing and deployed a line to the rear. Engine 508, who was coming back from transfer in Fairfax County, took the second due position with the water supply and backed up Wagon 511. Wagon 501 arrived shortly thereafter and was given the RIT assignment. They picked up a second hydrant, and made ready to supply Truck 511 if needed. Engine 525 arrived next and pulled line a inside the restaurant through the front. Crews found fire in the rear exterior walls, the roof, and a large void space which was accessed from inside the restaurant. At that point, Wagon 501 was ordered to assist with extinguishment on the exterior and the RIT assignment was reassigned. Command special called Tower 501 above the box to assist Truck 511. By now, the crews inside were getting a line on the fire in the void located above and behind the walk in freezers which was used for storage. Tower 501 arrived and split crews, sending one team to the roof to assist Truck 511 with their cuts, while the other team opened the side of the building. The Tower's crew found a good amount of fire in the corner and extinguished it. The fire inside was limited to void and part of the roof. Smoke conditions existed throughout the restaurant. Chief 501 (Holman) had operations while Chief 511 (Peters) had the command. Wagon 501 cleared at 1719 hrs while the Tower cleared at 1901 hrs. While the Wagon and Tower were operating on this box, the volunteers of Company 1 maintained two additional crews back at the station.

WAGON RUNS SECOND ALARM AT THE CHRISTMAS GALLERY

April 2 2006 - Around 0930 hrs this morning, box alarm 04-09 was transmitted for 14110 Lee Highway. Engine 504 arrived and reported heavy smoke showing from all four sides of the 2 1/2 story balloon frame building. The crew from 504 ran a line through the front door and were quickly backed up by the crew from Engine 525. Tower 525 arrived and was ordered to vent the roof. At this point because of the building type, configuration, fire load, and exposure problems, Command requested a second alarm, bringing Wagon 501 with 6 volunteers from the City. As Tower 525 made their first cut, they advised that there was fire in the attic. With fire conditions on all floors, companies were making slow headway and having trouble making the second floor and attic. This was due mostly to the structures many alterations and the amount of clutter that lined the floors of the building which now served as a Christmas store. Eventually the second alarm units were sent in to relieve the first alarm companies who were running out of air. Wagon 501 established themselves as Division 1 on the first floor and with help, began tearing open the lath and plaster walls and ceilings, searching for fire that had spread rapidly. Engine 515, Wagon 509, and Rescue 510 were operating on the second floors while Tower 525 and Truck 511 opened up the roof and extinguished what fire they found. At one point, as fire caused a portion of the roof to collapse, Command ordered all crews out. They were allow back in and continued to tear apart the building exposing what was left of the fire. With the blaze finally under control, companies attempted to salvage what they could but the majority of the merchandise was ruined. It took a good of effort on the part of all companies on the box to overhaul this building. Wagon 501 finally cleared at 1324 hrs.

First photo taken by Alan McCuin