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THE BOYS
AT CO.1 RECEIVE A VISIT FROM
PENNSYLVANIA |
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February 25, 2006 -
This weekend several of our brothers from the Alpha Fire
Company of State College, PA came down to the City for a
visit. Those who made the trip down to Manassas included
Mike Klein, Randy “Slick” Clouser, and Tony Berena. The
men arrived on Thursday evening, got a quick tour of the
fire house and settled in. During the day on Friday the
Alphas rode along taking in several runs. Later on that
evening they enjoyed a delicious dinner at the firehouse
which included Italian sausage, brats, burgers, Amish
macaroni salad and various other side items. Friday
evening the crews responded to several calls including a
chimney fire in the County. On Saturday they
participated in a public education display at a local
restaurant and an all day hazmat training class. We had
a good time but unfortunately Sunday came quickly and
the men had to return home to State College. Currently
there are four Alpha Alumni that are members of the MVFC
including Assistant Chief Matt Lausch, Captain Jon
Wangsness, Lieutenant Chris Klein and Firefighter Jon
Rogalski. We enjoyed the visit of our brothers from
Alpha and hope to see you again soon. |
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February 25, 2006 -
Today members of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company
participated in an all day Hazmat drill. During the
morning, members reviewed all of the special monitoring
devices carried on our Hazmat unit and techniques for
taking readings. Also reviewed was the use of PH tape
and the radiation meters. After a great lunch, crews
moved outside to practice the proper techniques and
procedures for setting up both of our mass
decontamination tents. |
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FOAM
ENGINE BACK ON THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER FIRE IN THE COUNTY |
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February 20, 2006 -
At 1121 hrs, Foam
Engine 501 (Rose) was dispatched 4th due on mutual box
08-01 for a house fire at 8914 Yorkshire Lane. The
supplement from communications advised smoke in a
bedroom. It didn't sound like much until first arriving
Wagon 508 (Brown) reported smoke showing from side A of
a single family detached dwelling. It was at this time
that the Foam Engine could see a good column of smoke in
the sky while still being several minutes out. The crew
from 508 attempted to make entry through the front of
the house along with Engine and Truck 511, but the front
door was blocked by furniture on the inside. Heavy fire
was now venting from the front of the house and falling
debris had burned through 508's line. Those units then
stretched their lines to the rear and made entry along
with 3rd arriving Engine 509. By this time a good
portion of the house was heavily involved in fire. The
fight was on as crews made an aggressive push into the
rear of the house. As the Foam Engine arrived, they were
assigned to be the RIT Team and made their way to the
front of the structure with their tools in hand. They
did a walk around of the building to see which crews
were operating where, venting as they went. It only took
about 3 minutes before 501 was told to abandon there RIT
duties and were put to work by Operations (Chief 511A,
Ackerman). Command requested an additional engine
company to assume the RIT. The crew from 501 stretched
the last pre-connect off of 508's rig, which
unfortunately was a 2 1/2, and the men settled in for a
beating. They worked the front of the home but with
crews coming in from the back, they repositioned their
line to the rear. With not much progress being made in the rear,
Command ordered everyone out of the house to regroup.
Stretching to the front of the house and finally beating
in the blocked front door, 501's lineman (Shafer)
started to knock down the fire in the front, and after a
few minutes of exterior operations, units were given the
green light to reenter the structure. This time around,
the crew from 501 along with the other companies made quick work of several rooms still
burning and an abundance of hot spots still smoldering
in the deep seated fire. 501 worked for several hours
overhauling and picking up hose. Truck 511's crew, who
cut two holes in the roof, did an excellent job opening
up the building so crews could operate comfortably
inside. One occupant of the home was transported for
smoke inhalation and other injuries. An unattended
candle left in a closet is being looked at by the Prince
William Fire Marshals Office as a probable cause. There
were no firefighter injuries and Chief 508A (Deem) had
the command. It was an excellent team effort on the part
of all companies operating on the fireground. While this
fire was happening, the dedicated volunteers of Manassas
maintained a second crew, staffing Engine 501. They
answered several calls within the city during this time.
The Foam Engine cleared the fire at 1420.
Box Alarm:
W508, W511, E509, FE501, T511, B501, M509
Special Call: W516, W507, A504
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MANASSAS
FIREMAN HEADS TO IRAQ |
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February 19, 2006 -
Firefighter Paul Condor
is on his way to Iraq to be a firefighter there for a
year. Paul
joined the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company in 2002. His
certifications include Firefighter II, EMT-B, Hazmat
Operations, Heavy Tactical Rescue, Vehicle Extrication,
Ropes, and Mayday. While volunteering with the City,
Firefighter Condor did a stretch as a live-in and after
that continued to run four nights a week. Since his
departure, Paul has spent a week in Houston, Texas
receiving nuclear, biological, and chemical training
before heading off to Baghdad. Once there he will
receive his assignment, most likely in Fallujha, where
he will be assigned to an Engine, Rescue Engine, or an
Airport Crash Truck. In June he'll receive a 10 day
furlough to return home. Until then, Paul, stay safe.
We're proud of your decision to serve, and you will be
missed here at Company 1.
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ENGINE
COMPANY HAS AN INTERESTING WALK IN |
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February 19, 2006 -
At around 1430 hrs, a
citizen walked into the station saying he had a problem
with his car. We really couldn't understand what he was
saying because of a language barrier, but he kept saying
something about his car and an eagle. Finally the
members just walked him out to his car so he could show
us what the problem was. He popped the trunk and to the
members surprise, there was a hawk that was less than
pleased to be in the trunk of a car. We quickly shut the
trunk as the bird was going nuts and tried to jump out.
Animal control was called to the firehouse. Eventually
we were able to figure out that the samaritan found the
wounded bird in the middle of the road, tossed a jacket
over it, tied it's legs together with a shoe string and
drove it to the firehouse. Animal control arrived and
took the bird. The Engine crew then left to go on a
public service for a citizen with a water leak in their
home. On arrival, the citizen pretended they weren't
home. As you can see, there's never a dull moment in
this town.
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FOAM
ENGINE ON ACCIDENT WITH A TRAPPED VICTIM |
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February 18, 2006 -
At 2221 hrs, Manassas
City sent the Foam Engine and a Medic Unit out for a
personal injury accident in the intersection of Sudley
Road and Godwin Drive. Simultaneously, Prince William
County dispatched the same call one intersection down,
which is in their jurisdiction. Companies from the
County arrived to find a T-bone crash, in the City,
involving two vehicles. The Foam Engine and Rescue Squad
501, who had added themself onto the run, arrived
shortly to find one occupant trapped in the mini van.
The Squad quickly went to work removing the seriously
mangled door while the Foam Engine stabilized the
vehicle, took out the glass, and secured the hazards.
The victim, with serious trauma, was flown to an area
trauma center. The Foam Engine cleared at 2253 hrs. |
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ANOTHER
VIOLENT START TO THE WEEKEND |
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February 18, 2006 -
At 0030 hrs, the Foam
Engine was sent to Taney Road and Bragg Lane in the
Georgetown South section of the City for a stabbing. On
arrival, crews found one patient who had been stabbed.
The Engine was cut loose to establish the LZ. They did
so at 9600 Grant Avenue, the Georgetown South Chopping
Center. Air Care 3 landed and transported the patient to
a local trauma center. They cleared at 0136hrs. The
Engine Company would handle 8 more runs in a day ending
with a personal injury accident with people trapped. |
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CREWS FROM
COMPANY 1 MAKE SECOND FIRE OF THE DAY |
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February 17, 2006 -
At 2011 hrs, Foam
Engine, Truck, and Assistant Chief 501 responded on
mutual box 16-03 for the report of fire in a home at
10195 Bent Tree Lane. While responding, communications
advised the units that the caller reported the fire had
started in the chimney and was spreading to the roof.
Wagon 516 arrived on the scene and reported fire showing
from the chimney. Foam Engine and Truck 501 arrived next
and were ordered to go to the roof. They found fire in
the wooden chimney stack were it came out of the roof.
The Truck opened it and part of the roof up, and the
Foam Engine extinguished the fire. Wagon 516
extinguished what was in the fire box inside the home.
No other extension or fire was found. Company 1 units
cleared the fireground at 2048 hrs. |
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HAZMAT
TASKFORCE SENT TO MICRON FOR CHEMICAL SPILL |
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February 17, 2006 -
Just after lunch this
afternoon, Manassas City Fire Communications sent a
Hazmat Taskforce Alarm to 10100 Nokesville Road, Micron
Semiconductor. At 1313 hrs, Foam Engine, Tower, Hazmat,
Hazmat Support and Battalion 501 responded, along with
other mutual aid units. On arrival, crews found a
chemical waste pipe that had been busted by a worker,
spraying several people with a cocktail of various
chemicals. In total, 19 people were contaminated. The
plant's response team began decon and control of the
spill. Units from the City assisted with checking for
further hazards. One patient was transported to the
hospital. Units left the scene with the plant responders
and went ready at 1354 hrs. |
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TRUCK 501
MAKES SECOND ALARM IN WOODBRIDGE |
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February 17, 2006 -
At 0850 hrs, Truck 501
hit the road to Woodbridge on mutual box 02-05 at 13621
Garfield Place. East end Prince William County units
were operating on an apartment fire at the other end of
the county from Manassas.
The
fire apparently started near a patio on the first floor
and climbed two stories on the outside of the building
and spread to the condos' attic. A second alarm was
quickly sounded. Truck 501 was part of the RIT (Rapid
Intervention Team) Taskforce, which was sounded above
the second alarm. On arrival late in the game, the Truck was put right to
work opening up and overhauling on the second floor with
Fairfax Engine 419. With the large amount of fire that
crews encountered on arrival, County units did a great
job putting an aggressive stop on the fire’s spread.
Twelve families were displaced by the blaze. Truck 501
went ready at
1104 hrs.
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FOAM
ENGINE AND LADDER COMPANY ON SMALL FIRE IN NOKESVILLE |
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February 15, 2006 -
At 1520
hrs, mutual box 25-06 was sounded for an unknown
situation at 9929 Gardenia Lane bringing Truck 501 and
the Foam Engine, who was just clearing a medical local
in another part of the County. On call back, Prince
William County Fire Communications advised the units
that the fire alarm at that box location was sounding,
the building was evacuated, and maintenance on scene was
not sure what was going on. Engine 525 arrived on the
scene and advised smoke showing from a two story
apartment building. Truck 501, just entering the block,
quickly made entry into the home to locate the fire for
the engine company and perform a search. Encountering
light smoke on the first floor and decent smoke
conditions on the second, they found what was left of
the fire being contained by the sprinkler system in an
upstairs child's room. The Truck's crew quickly
performed a search of the entire home and ventilated.
Having turned off the buildings sprinkler system, the
Truck began salvaging all they could on the first floor
as water was coming through the entire first floor
ceiling. With that done and all the standing water
removed from the first floor, they went ready at 1625
hrs. The Foam Engine did arrive and was staged before
being cut loose along with most of the assignment. |
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TOWER 501
GOES OUT OF SERVICE, COUNTY STEPS IN TO HELP |
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February 13, 2006 -
The members of the
Manassas Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank the
Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue for
allowing us to borrow Truck 519 while our Tower was sent
out for a couple weeks of maintenance. Truck 519 is a
reserved unit that is stationed at the County's Training
Academy. Aside from being the county's only reserve
ladder truck, it serves the training school full time.
This is just another example of the County and
City working together to better serve our communities. |
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ENGINE
MAKES HAYMARKET SECOND ALARM |
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February 12, 2006 -
With everyone
digging out of the snow, a rather calm Sunday evening
got busy as box 04-03 was struck for a townhouse fire on
Macon Grove Lane
in the Haymarket area of the County. Not due on the
first alarm, Manassas Firefighters were listening up and
for good reason. Chief 504 quickly hit the second alarm
as Engine 504 went on the scene with a four story
condominium, under construction, and well involved. At
2006 hrs, Engine 501 was requested on the second. They
arrived on the scene and went to work manning several handlines on the exterior of the structure and throwing
several ground ladders. With units going defensive and a
ladder pipe in operation, units made fairly quick work
of the fire. Despite frigid temperatures and thick snow
cover, all the companies worked together to keep this
fire from spreading to two nearby exposures. Engine 501
operated for two hours before returning to service at
2156 hrs. |
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WEEKEND
BRINGS A FOOT OF SNOW AND A VISIT FROM THE BOYS FROM
PROGRESS |
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February 11, 2006 -
As the snow
started to fall, members started to settle in for the
weekend. Maintaining two full crews, the snow managed to
stir up nothing more than a few alarms and a first due
chimney fire. However, the lack of calls allowed for
members to catch with several of our brother
firefighters from Progress, Pennsylvainia, Company 32,
who were in town for the weekend to ride. Members
enjoyed a great dinner, some cigars, and a visit from
the Company President, who joined the men for supper as
well. Benny, D.H., it was great having ya'll, and
we'll see ya at the block party if we don't see you
before. |
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ENGINE AND
TRUCK ON FIRST DUE CHIMNEY FIRE |
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February 11, 2006 -
At 1929 hrs, Engine,
Truck, and Assistant Chief 501 responded to 8819 Fort
Drive for a chimney fire. Engine 508, who was in the
City, added themselves to the run. Units arrived to find
an active fire which was quickly extinguished. The Truck
checked the roof, while the engine companies looked for
extension in the home. None was found and units went
ready at 2009 hrs. Chief Lausch had the command.
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Photos by
Nick Baranowski, MVFC ride-a-long. |
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FRIDAY
BRINGS TWO SMALL FIRES FOR MANASSAS FIREFIGTHERS |
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February 10, 2006 -
With the area
bracing for the coming blizzard, Manassas Firefighters
swung into action taking in the first of two fires for
the day. Around lunchtime, Foam Engine 501 responded
second due on mutual box 11-11 to 10999 Hiram Court, in
the Coverstone section of Sudley, for the report of a
townhouse fire. First arriving Engine 511(Capt. Cooke)
reported nothing showing but quickly upgraded that
report to a working fire as units discovered a fire
burning between the floors of a two story townhome.
Units made quick work of this fire and the Foam Engine
went ready at 1300 hrs. Later that evening at 1844
hours, Foam Engine 501 and Chief 501A were alerted to
4505 Sanders Lane, in the Evergreen section of Prince
William County. Truck 501 added on to the call and
Manassas Volunteers were on the road to the mountain
with 12 volunteers. Engine 515 (Lt. Grainger) arrived on the
scene with heavy fire showing from a two story colonial.
What sounded good didn't turn out to be much for us as
E515's lineman (Acosta) made rather quick work of what
was a real good fire on the second floor. The Truck
arrived on the scene and was shortly returned to service
along with the Foam Engine and several other units as
command cut back the assignment. All units from the City
were clear by 1908 hrs. |
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THERE IS A
REASON WHY 14 YEAR OLDS CAN'T DRIVE |
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February 10, 2006 -
Around 0430 hours,
Foam Engine 501 was on the road to the Lake Jackson
section of Prince William County again. They were
dispatched to a personal injury accident with a roll
over. On arrival, The Foam Engine found a heavily
damaged Yukon sitting upright in the median strip. Crews
found the driver, a 14 year old boy, who decided he just
had to see his girlfriend and in the process, managed to
total the family SUV with minor injuries, thankfully.
The Foam Engine's crew checked for hazards and cleared a
few minutes later.
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HEAD ON
CRASH LUCKILY YIELDS MINOR INJURIES |
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February 8, 2006 -
At 1302 hrs, Foam Engine
and Truck 501 responded along with units from the Rescue
Squad to the intersection of Nokesville Road and Godwin
Drive for the head on crash. On arrival crews found two
vehicles, with no one trapped. The Medics handled one
patient while the Engine and Truck handled the hazards.
They went ready at 1324 hrs.
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FOAM
ENGINE SETS UP LZ AFTER CRASH IN THE COUNTY |
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February 6, 2006 -
A little over two
hours after the Foam Engine cleared the previous call,
they were back on the road for another serious accident
in the County. At 0635 hours Foam Engine 501 responded
on mutual box 11-11 to 8000 Rodes Drive to establish a
landing zone for Medic 551, who requested a medevac for
one of four patients injured in the early morning crash
on Bethlehem Road. The Foam Engine cleared around 0630
hrs. The company would answer a total of 10 calls before
the day was through. |
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THIS IS
YOUR CAR... THIS IS YOUR CAR WHEN YOU RUN FROM THE
POLICE |
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February 6, 2006 -
Around 0230 hours,
Foam Engine 501 was alerted to assist Lake Jackson units
on the wreck with entrapment at 10503 Godwin Drive.
Arriving on the scene with one car that had flipped
several times, units were unable to find any of the
occupants. The Foam Engine remained on the scene for
over an hour assisting the County Police with lighting
as they scoured the area with the K-9 and a State Police
helicopter. The Foam Engine was finally cut loose at
0344 hrs. |
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MANASSAS
FIREFIGHTERS ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FELLOW BROTHER |
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February 4, 2006 -
Today Foam Engine and Tower 501 attended the memorial
service for fellow brother firefighter John E. Thomas,
of the Prince William County Department of Fire and
Rescue. Brother Thomas passed away Monday, January 30th,
2006, after hard fought battle with lung cancer. Thomas
was a Technician 2 and a four year veteran of the
department, having served tours at Engine 514 (Lakeridge),
Tower 513 (Dale City), and Truck 511 (Stonewall). Thomas
also served on the Northern Virginia Fire and Rescue
Task Force that deployed to assist with Hurricane
efforts in the south. Prior to his appointment as a
career firefighter with Prince William County, Thomas
served as a volunteer with the Dumfries Triangle
Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he rose to the rank of
Lieutenant and was cited for valor during his career
there. Thomas is survived by his wife Michelle "Mickey"
Thomas, also a member of the Prince William County
Department of Fire and Rescue. The members of the
Manassas Volunteer Fire Company express our heartfelt
sympathy and regret to the Thomas family, as we keep
them in our thoughts and prayers during there time of
mourning. John E. Thomas, husband, friend, and in
the the words of everyone that knew him "one hell of a
fireman," You will be dearly missed. |
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TOWER
EXTRICATES TWO ON FATAL CRASH |
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February 3, 2006 -
At 0448 hrs, Tower 501
responded as the first due special service company on
mutual box 11-11, for a personal injury accident with
persons trapped. Engine 511 arrived first and confirmed
multiple trapped patients. The Tower's crew arrived and
quickly began extrication. They removed a door an the
roof so that the medics could remove the driver, who was
being ventilated manually. With that victim out, they
went to work pushing the back drivers side off of a
second victim. Both patients were removed within 15
minutes. The accident was a result of a T-bone crash in
the intersection of Sudley Road at Coverstone Drive.
According to the Journal Messenger,
the
accident was caused when one vehicle ran a red light.
None of the passengers in the vehicle with people
trapped were wearing seat belts. The driver of the
second vehicle did not require any medical attention.
The Tower cleared at 0530 hrs. |
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VIOLENT
START TO A WEDNESDAY EVENING |
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February 1, 2006 -
Shortly before 1800
hours, units from Engine Company 1 and the Rescue Squad
were sent out for a shooting in the first due. This
would be the first of 7 runs for the Engine over the
next 4 hours. Responding units were sent to the 9800
block of Buckner Road in the Georgetown South section of
Manassas for the report of a male shot and lying
unresponsive on the sidewalk. Units arrived quickly
thereafter and as the medics went to work on the victim,
the Engine was cut loose to establish a landing zone for
a medevac helicopter, which transported the victim to a
nearby trauma center. After
clearing the LZ, Foam Engine 501 returned to service
just in time to spend the next three hours answering
everything from medical locals, to alarm bells, to
service calls, to a dumpster, and of course to wash down
the crime scene for the police. As luck would have it,
while answering one of the alarms, the Foam Engine
missed out on a second due mutual box. That call proved
needless. Throw in a 9pm dinner and a few more runs
after midnight and there’s a look at a night on Engine
1. |
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Manassas Volunteer Fire Company |
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