TOWER ON ROOF COLLAPSE IN NOKESVILLE

August 31 2006 - With the area under a flood watch and tropical storm Ernesto pushing closer to the DC metro area, it wouldn't be long before something dramatic would happen. As the Wagon and Hazmat Unit were investigating a hazardous material spill in the first due, Tower 501 was on the way to Nokesville. At 1437 hrs, a collapse taskforce was sounded on mutual box 05-12 for a roof collapse at 10734 Parkgate Road. Apparently, roofers preparing to put a fresh layer of shingles on a home loaded 96 bundles of shingles on the roof and left for the day. Weighing in at approximately 75 lbs each, that adds up to 7,200 lbs. The home owner, concerned with the creaking noises his roof was making, called the roofing company. Directly after getting off the phone, the roof collapsed. He was able to get himself out of the house and called 911. With no life hazard, the only thing for companies on the scene to do was secure the utilities, cordon off the area and wait for the building inspector. Command held the first due engine and the collapse unit from OWL. The Tower went ready at 1518 hrs.

FOOD CAN'T COOK ITSELF

August 27 2006 - As the recent trend has shown, it's not the greatest idea to leave your house with food cooking on the stove. At 2153 hrs the box was transmitted for 8667 Devonshire Court, bringing Wagon, Tower, Chief, and Assistant Chief 501. On arrival, crews from the City found decent smoke conditions outside the apartment complex. A line was quickly placed in service to the reporting apartment. Crews found yet another fire on the stove that burned up the cabinets and ceiling. With the fire out and no extension found, the majority of the box was quickly returned, though Truck 511 was held to assist with ventilation. Units went ready at 2233.

MANASSAS UNITS BUSY WITH MULTIPLE PEDESTRIANS STRUCK

August 24 2006 - At 1232 hours, Tower 501 responded on mutual box 08-03 for a report of several people trapped under a vehicle. On arrival crews found two patients that had been crushed under a runaway SUV. According to the Manassas Journal Messenger, the elderly driver of the SUV pulled into the York Heating and Air Conditioning Company located at 8205 Centreville Road. The driver parked the vehicle on an incline and walked inside the store, asking one of the employees for some help with his SUV, which he said something was wrong with. The pair walked outside and behind the SUV. It then started to roll backwards and pinned the men underneath. The pair was suffering from broken bones, an amputated ear, and other traumatic injuries. Wagon 508 and Tower 501 provided care to both patients. Wagon 511 landed two helicopters and both patients were flown to a local trauma center. It was later learned that the driver of the SUV passed away from his injuries. At the same time, Wagon 501 was operating on a pedestrian who had been struck at high speed, cracking the windsheild, while crossing the road in the first due. That patient was transported to the local hospital.

WAGON, TOWER, AND CHIEF ON TRAILER FIRE ON YORKSHIRE

August 23 2006 - At around 1400 hrs, citizens observed smoke coming from the trailer located at 7406 Moss Lane. Shortly thereafter, box alarm 08-02 was transmitted bringing Wagon 501 as the third due engine company and Tower 501 as the first due truck. Engine 508 arrived and reported heavy smoke showing. As they and Wagon 509 were stretching the first line inside, Wagon and Tower 501 arrived. The Tower's crew ran into the home and with heavy smoke and decent heat conditions, they immediately began venting the windows and doing a primary search. Wagon 501's crew pulled a second line and made entry through the rear. Engine 508 and Wagon 509 got a quick knock on the fire which was located in the kitchen and back bathroom. The primary was negative but on the secondary, a cat and three birds were found, all of which had succumbed to the fire. The Wagon and Tower opened up and with a little extension extinguished, they headed back to the City within the hour.

UNATTENDED COOKING CAUSES SMALL FIRE

August 20 2006 - At 1051 hrs, the Wagon went out for a residential fire alarm at 9045 Portner Avenue. On arrival, the crew had a slight odor and could see smoke pushing out from around the door. Without filling the box, they forced entry to find decent smoke conditions.  The lineman quickly made his way to the source which was in the kitchen. The fire was the result of unattended cooking. The Fire Marshal was requested along with the cops for unsecured premises. The Wagon went ready within a half an hour.

THE MEN RECEIVE A VISIT FROM A FRIENDLY GROUP OF AU PAIRS

August 17 2006 - As the Wagon was pulling back into quarters from a trip to the store, they were pleasantly surprised to find nine young ladies waiting for them on the front ramp. The girls where part of a group of au pairs, who are essentially nannies, caring for children in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family's language. Looking for a needed distraction from their work, they came by to meet the men. The crew entertained the ladies for quite sometime and posed for pictures with about 20 cameras before they rolled out.  We invited them back for dinner later in the week, but little do they know, we're gonna make them cook.

YET ANOTHER CAR INTO THE BUILDING

August 15 2006 - Early this morning at 0137, the building collapse assignment was sounded for 9812 Bragg Lane, in Georgetown South. Wagon, Tower, and Assistant Chief 501 arrived on scene to find a vehicle that had gotten a little too close to one of the row houses. With no entrapment or hazards, the building was evacuated and companies stood by for the Building Inspector. The house was condemned and units cleared at 0234 hrs.

WAGON LANDS AIRCARE IN LAKE JACKSON

August 13 2006 - The Wagon went out for an LZ on mutual box 07-02 at 1812 hrs this evening. They set up at 9305 Brentsville Road and awaited the arrival of Aircare 2. The helicopter landed without incident and the patient, who was suffering from a traumatic injury, was flown to a local trauma center. The Wagon went ready within a half an hour.

LITTLE SLEEP FOR THE WAGON ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

August 10 2006 - The crew from Wagon 501 didn't see much of the firehouse last evening. It all started after dinner when they were sent out to investigate an unknown situation with life status questionable. On arrival they confirmed a DOA and requested the cops because of a crime scene situation. The watch commander had the crew remain on scene so they could be questioned by the detectives, and cleared more than an hour later. With that over with, they took in a few more runs in between practically dismantling the DVD player which refused to play the nights "training video". The highlight of the evening came at 0039 hours, when they were sent out for a rubbish fire to the rear of 10379 Central Park Drive. On arrival they found a Bobcat burning. The fire was quickly extinguished and the Wagon cleared within a half an hour. The night went on as they answered several more runs. The lowlight being a water flow alarm in a large commercial building that housed a furniture store, storage facility, church, and several vacant occupancies. On arrival, it was evident that water was flowing somewhere in the building. With the possibility of flowing water creating a hazard or a small fire having activated a sprinkler head and no knox box or contact person available, the Wagon spent over an hour gaining access to the entire structure. Of course, there was no fire. One more run after that and it was 6 am and finally bedtime.

WAGON FIRST DUE ON THE SECOND ALARM

August 04 2006 - At 0412 hrs, a second alarm was requested for 12810 Brenttown Court on mutual box 05-10, bringing Wagon and Chief 501. Crews from the City arrived on scene to find Prince William County units aggressively attacking a large fire in a one story single family home. The Wagon's crew relieved the crew from first due Engine 505 and continued to extinguish the fire. The Wagon remained on scene to assist with overhaul and cleared at 0550 hrs. Thanks to the crew from Co. 16 who transferred to our station to cover the City while we were operating on the box.