THE BOYS TAKE IN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING FIRE IN THE COUNTY

July 31 2006 - As almost a full month has gone by without a substantial fire and a straight week of nearly 100 degree temperatures, there has been an anxious tension at the firehouse. That pressure was slightly relieved today when at 1559 hours, mutual box 08-03 was sound for a fire in a commercial building 7229 Centreville Road, bringing Wagon 501 in the third due spot and Tower 501 as the first due truck with eight men. Wagon 508 arrived and reported smoke showing from a single story strip mall. Tower 501 arrived as the crews from Wagon 508 and Engine 509 were preparing to make entry. The Tower's Officer and Bar Man forced entry and advanced beyond the engine companies through thick smoke and high heat to perform a search and locate the fire. Simultaneously, the Hook Man and Chauffer rapidly made the roof and cut a vent hole. The Bar Man located a smoldering fire and directed Wagon 508 to it. Wagon 501 secured the utilities in the rear and was assigned to the exposures, finding heavy smoke conditions but no fire. With the fire out, crews quickly vented the building and opened up, finding no extension. Chief 501 had the command and units from the City headed home at 1710 hours.

ANOTHER VEHICLE INTO A BUILDING

July 19 2006 - At 0647 hrs, the box came in for a vehicle that had struck the home at 9353 Taney Road. Wagon and Tower 501 arrived to find one car that had hit the building and bounced off without causing serious structural damage. With no injuries found, the crew from the Tower secured the utilities and went ready at 0702. The Wagon remained on scene to await the arrival of the building inspector. They went ready at 0734 hrs.

ILLEGAL DUMPING BRINGS HAZMAT TASKFORCE

July 15 2006 - At 1104 hrs, a call came into the firehouse reporting subjects dumping large quantities of an unknown substance to the rear of 8664 Devonshire Drive. Chief 501 notified the cops and, with the Wagon, proceeded over to investigate. On arrival, crews found a large amount of an unknown chemical that had been dumped down a storm drain and into a local creek. Chief 501 requested a hazmat taskforce, bringing the Hazmat and Hazmat Support units. Crews built a dam to control the spill, and took and analyzed a sample of the substance, which turned out to be used cooking oil. The scene was turned over to FM582 and the units cleared at 1225. Turns out the people dumping the oil were from a restaurant that backs up to creek. We guess pouring this stuff into the neighborhood creek is more cost effective than properly disposing of it.

WAGON ON SMALL FIRE AT THE OFFICE DEPOT

July 13 2006 - At 0143 hours, Wagon 501 responded on mutual box 11-11 for a commercial building fire at 10630 Sudley Manor Drive, the Office Depot. On arrival, Wagon 511 reported a haze in the building with welders working on the roof. Wagon 501 arrived, established a water supply for Wagon 511, and headed to the roof. Once there, they and the crew from Truck 511 found a small fire burning under the roof membrane. The roof was opened up and the fire was extinguished by Wagon 501. Battalion Chief 501 (Byrd) had the command, while Asst. Chief 511 (Ackerman) had ops. Wagon 501 went ready at 0234 hrs.

VEHICLE STRIKES HOME IN OLD TOWN

July 12 2006 - At 0805 hrs, Wagon and Tower 501 responded for a vehicle into a home at 9403 Battle Street. On arrival, they found a single vehicle that had slammed into the house after being t-boned in the intersection. Tower and Rescue 501 worked to shore up the A/B corner of the building. Crews remained on scene until 0938, when they were released by the building inspector.

WAGON LANDS TWO SEPARATE HELICOPTERS OVERNIGHT

July 10 2006 - The first of two LZ requests came in at 0040 hrs as Medic 501 requested a helicopter for one seriously injured after an assault. The Wagon landed Aircare 3 at Osborn High School without incident. The second LZ came in at 0256 hrs, when Medic 501 requested a medivac for one injured after a long fall. This time the LZ was at 9121 Centreville Road. Aircare 1 landed without incident and the rest of the morning was quiet for a change.

WAGON FIRST IN ON SMALL FIRE IN SUDLEY RESTAURANT

July 09 2006 - At 1947 hrs, Wagon 501 was sent out on mutual box 11-15 for fire in the restaurant at 8359 Sudley Road. With the first due company out of position, Wagon 501 took the first due spot. They arrived with Truck 511 to find a fire burning in a dry goods storage area of the Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House. Wagon 501 ran the 300' and made quick work of the small fire. The Wagon's crew conducted overhaul and remained on scene to assist the Fire Marshall's Office with the investigation. The went ready at 2103 hrs.

WAGON, TOWER, AND CHIEF ON YORKSHIRE BOX

July 09 2006 - At 0022 hrs, Wagon, Tower, and Chief 501 responded on mutual box 08-02 for several vehicles on fire next to a mobile home at 7414 Peppertree Lane. Engine 508 had originally gone out for an auto and filled the box on arrival. Wagon 501 came in third and laid out from a secondary hydrant, ran a 200, quickly checked the exposure, and assisted with extinguishment and overhaul. Assistant Chief 508 had command. Units from the City went ready at 0130 hrs.

WAGON AND CHIEF ON BBQ TRUCK FIRE

July 05 2006 - At 0933 hrs, Wagon 501 and the Chief were sent out for an auto fire at 10624 Dumfries Road on mutual box 07-03. As they approached the fairgrounds, a light column of smoke could be seen to the rear. The Wagon's crew found several civilians trying to extinguish a fire in a mobile BBQ catering truck. The crew pulled the bumper line and made quick work of what was left. Both units cleared at 0957.

DISGRUNTLED SMOKERS, LIGHT YOUR MATCHES

July 07 2006 - A busy Friday started off with a little fire at the nursing home. The run came out at 0528 hrs for an activated alarm at 9201 Maple Street, Annaburg Manor. On arrival, Wagon 501 found a promotional sign for another care facility in the area that had been set on fire, apparently by a resident that did not care for the facilities smoking policy. With the fire out, the Wagon vented the smoke, checked the welfare of some of the buildings occupants, and then turned the scene over to the Cops and the Fire Marshall's Office. Crews from Company 1 would go on to handle 10 more runs before the days end.

TOWER 512 AND TRUCK 503 - 1 ...... TOWER 501 - 0

July 05 2006 - Well, the day belonged to the Engine Company, which was fairly busy running the usual assortment of calls and weather spawned emergencies. Late in the afternoon they took in a single vehicle accident on Euclid Avenue at Liberia Avenue. Someone must be looking out for drivers in the City. The driver of the vehicle went head on with a telephone pole at high speed, bounced off, and came to rest against a parked car. This guy should have been trapped and probably seriously injured, but instead he was out of the vehicle with no apparent injuries when we arrived. Lucky him. As the evening went by, the Engine handled a few more automatic alarms in between trying to sleep. The Tower, as usual, spent the evening being the "east end" ladder truck. That is until about 0300 hrs when a house fire came out in company 517's local and wouldn't you know, with heavy fire showing, two "east end" companies dropped their engines to staff their ladder trucks, at the battalion chief's request of course. The Tower was placed in service about half way to the scene. They drove back to quarters listening to the fire go on and, as they pulled in, the Engine crew was there, just returning from a run, to laugh at them. The Engine crew got theirs about 25 minutes later as they were dispatched on another AFA, with the Tower crew tucked comfortably in their beds muttering colorful comments as the Engine crew left the bunkroom.

4TH OF JULY IN MANASSAS

July 04 2006 - With an expected 55,000 people converging on Old Town Manassas for the 4th of July festivities, the City was truly alive. Manassas Volunteers maintained multiple crews all day, handling several holiday related calls, aside from the normal runs. As dusk settled in, the Wagon, Foam Engine, Tower, and Attack Unit came together at Osborn High School, which is where the fireworks were being launched from, to stand by during the show. As usual, the brilliant display put on by the City went off without a hitch and the rain held off till afterwards.