SMALL FIRE IN A BEDROOM IN CO. 11'S AREA

February 26, 2005 - At 1206 hrs Wagon 501 was dispatched as the fill site pumper for a house fire on Shelter Lane in Prince William County.  While responding they were placed in service and shortly thereafter at 1216 hrs, dispatched 2nd due on box 1112 to 7453 Donset Court for a reported house fire.  Wagon 501 arrived to find very light smoke coming from the house.  As the crew was stretching their line, the homeowner met them and reported that she had used a dry chemical fire extinguisher to put out a television that had been on fire in one of the bedrooms. The crew confirmed the fire was out and advised the battalion chief that they wanted to hold 1 and 1.  Truck 511 checked for extension and found none.  Foam Engine 501 also responded on the call. Manassas units went ready at 1244 hrs.

Photo by Don Holman, MVFC Fire Chief.

VAN FULLY INVOLVED

February 23, 2005 - At 0753 hrs, Wagon 501 was dispatched to 9005 Richmond Ave for an auto fire.  The homeowner had started her van to warm it up and went back inside her house.  She came back out a few minuets later to find the van on fire.  When she called 911 from her cell phone the call went to Prince William County's dispatch center because the cell tower her phone was using was in the county.  This initially delayed the proper emergency response because the call had to be transferred to Manassas City Communications. Additionally, the Wagon had to divert its response because a commuter train at the Manassas City Depot had blocked their primary response route.  By the time the Wagon got on scene the van was fully involved and there was some extension to second car, primarily heat damage to exterior paint. The fire was quickly extinguished.  Units went ready at 0841 hrs.

RONNIE STANLEY RETIRES AFTER 29 YEARS OF SERVICE

February 18, 2005 - Tonight the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company honored career Master Fire Technician Ronnie Stanley's 29 years of dedicated service with a surprise retirement party. Ronnie was the first firefighter hired by the City of Manassas on January 1, 1976.  Mayor Douglas Waldren was on hand along with about 200 friends and colleagues including roughly 35 Prince William County firefighters.  Many awards and keepsakes given to Ronnie including an American Flag which was flown in his honor during his last tour of duty that was presented in an impressive shadow box and letter of congratulations from President George W Bush and the First Lady.  Also, a 20 minute video tribute to Ronnie's dedicated years of service as a member of the Fire Company was shown.  As with all MVFC functions there was a DJ and refreshments and a good time had by all.

Photos by Lt. Carl Persing, MVFC career Lieutenant.

MANASSAS UNITS RESPOND ON YORKSHIRE HOUSE FIRE

February 15, 2005 - At 1404 hrs, Wagon, Tower and Chief 501 responded on Mutual Box 0803 to 7320 Centreville Road for a house fire.  On arrival, units from Co. 508 found heavy fire coming from the front of a single story house. The Wagon's crew, arriving third, pulled a backup line from Engine 508 and proceeded to the front of the house.  At the same time, two firefighters from the Tower crew went to the roof to cut a ventilation hole. As the second line got charged, a Manassas volunteer asked the lineman from Co. 8 for his line, which he gave up and the crew from Wagon 501 began knocking down what now appeared to be a porch fire. Two other firefighters from the Tower crew went to side C with the second due engine, ventilating windows as they went, to force entry for Wagon 509 and conduct a primary search.  With the bulk of the fire knocked down, one Manassas firefighter forced the front door while the Capitan and another firefighter made entry through a bedroom window. Not finding much extension to the inside and the primary search being negative, the fire was called under control.  Units from Manassas went ready at 1546 hrs.

Photos by Josh McCuin, Manassas Park EMT.

WAGON AND TOWER ON PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY SECOND ALARM

February 14, 2005 -  At around 7 am, PWC Fire Communications dispatched units to an appliance fire at 7969 Wellingford Road.  While responding, communications advised that this was possibly a gas leak and an explosion with 3 burned, at which point the call was upgraded to a residential box. Shortly thereafter, it was realized this was a business address and the commercial box was filled out bringing Wagon 501 as the 4th due engine.  On arrival they reported to side C to check exposures. The building, which housed an industrial linen cleaning operation was one complete structure with no exposures so the Wagon's crew was ordered to meet up with the other crews operating inside. Bringing a backup line with them, they encountered heavy smoke and a great deal of clutter as they worked their through the machinery and bins of linens towards side A.  Meeting up with other the other companies they found 3, 10 ft tall gas powered commercial dryer filled with lines from hospitals burning. Crews flooded the dryers and extinguished the fire. It was found that maintenance workers, replacing a valve on gas line, never shut the gas off or disconnected the power to the units they were working on. One of the workers later died from injuries sustained as a result of the explosion. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the victim. The miscommunication that led to the several charges in the initial dispatch can be attributed the chaotic and freighting nature of the incident.

Photo by Don Holman, MVFC Fire Chief.

CAR INTO HOUSE ON LIBERIA AVENUE

February 14, 2005 - Last night a vehicle fleeing from police crashed in to a house at 9213 Bayberry Drive. At 0029 hrs, Wagon 501 was dispatch along with units from the Rescue Squad to the scene of the crash.  They found the vehicle which came to rest partially inside the house, with the patient still inside suffering from a fractured knee.  As you can see from the pictures, the car fractured knee wall of the house, moving the furniture inside the room. Luckily no innocent bystanders were injured as the result of the reckless and poor decision of an individual who decided to run from the cops because they tried to stop him for driving without his headlights on.

Photos by Don Holman, MVFC Fire Chief.