UPDATE ON THE INJURED DC FIREMEN

October 30, 2007 – Sgt. Michael Lacore opened his eyes and squeezed his mother's hand Tuesday after the first of what are expected to be many surgeries at the Washington Hospital Center Burn Unit. Sgt. Lacore has 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 40 percent of his body. Firefighter Charles Shyab is now in fair condition. Firefighter Kenneth Humphries and Probationer Dennis Donnelly have been released from the hospital. Thanks again to Dave Statter of STATter911.com for keeping us accurately up to date. The members of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company are very concerned for the members of Engine Co. 4 and wish them and their families the best during these difficult times.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH OUR INJURED BROTHERS IN DC

October 30, 2007 – At 1517 hours on October 29, 2007, a box alarm assignment was sent to 619 4th St., in Northeast Washington D.C, for a report of an explosion. Companies arrived to find fire spreading from the outside porch into the cock loft of the dispatched address. As companies went to work inside the fire building, Engine Co. 4, 5th due on the box, took a position on the top floor of 619 4th street, exposure D, were the fire had extended to. Without warning, they became involved in a massive volume of fire. According to Chief Dennis Rubin, the Chief of the DC Fire Department, "It appears as though the fire came from the first floor, traveled up the staircase of the building that they were in, and caught them off guard". A "mayday" was called and the firefighters were out of the building a short time later. A second alarm was requested shortly after the "mayday" was received. All four members of Engine Co. 4 were quickly transported to Medstar Hospital.

At a press conference today, Chief Rubin confirmed that linseed oil-soaked rags left next to a fence ignited through spontaneous combustion. The fire spread from there to the rear porch at 621 4th Street, NE where two, 20-pound propane tanks became involved in the fire. The fire then spread to 619. There was a BLEVE in one of the tanks and fire from the relief valve of the second tank which is believed to be the cause of the fireball that trapped Engine 4’s men.

We would also like to mention a foundation that was formed to help burn victims and their families. The D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by active and retired Washington, D.C. Firefighters. The Foundation is dedicated to assisting in the recovery and rehabilitation of injured firefighters and burn patients in the D.C. Metropolitan Area. They support burn research, treatment, and rehabilitation programs at the Washington Hospital Center as well as the Children's Burn Camp Program. During the last year, the Burn Foundation has helped fund major renovations to the Burn center ICU. The Burn Foundation is covering the entire cost of a project to remodel the Out Patient Clinic in the Burn Center. Any firefighter, including us here in Manassas, or burn patient who is seen at the Burn Center either for long term care or for minor burns spends some time in the clinic. To check out their website or make a donation, click here.

Photos courtesy of DCFD.com and WUSA9.com

TOWER CREW COVERS STAFFORD CO. 2 DURING FUNERAL FOR FALLEN DEPUTY

October 24, 2007 – On October 19, 2007, Stafford County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Mooney was killed in automobile accident on I-95 while responding to a serious accident call. He was following a rescue squad when his patrol car hydroplaned and left the roadway. The responding rescue units immediately came to his assistance and transported him to Mary Washington Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Deputy Mooney was also a member of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department, who was responding to the same traffic accident. The Manassas Volunteer Fire Company was asked to provide a crew to cover the duties of Stafford Truck Co. 2 so their members could attend the funeral services for their fallen brother. The men from Tower 501 made there way down to Stafford and using Tower 10, courtesy of the WideWater Volunteer Fire Department, they assumed duty. On a night plagued with heavy rains that was eerily similar to the night Deputy Mooney passed away, the Tower crew ran ten calls, nine of which were auto accidents. Many of the calls were on interstate I-95 and most of the vehicles were overturned. On one such incident, located at mile maker 142, the Tower crew removed a door to extricate the victim from their overturned vehicle. The men of Tower 501 were proud to stand in for the Volunteers of Stafford Co. 2 while they mourned the loss of their fallen brother. The Manassas Volunteer Fire Company would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Deputy Mooney for their loss.

TRASH FIRE TO THE REAR OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING

October 15, 2007 – At 2008 hours, box alarm 11-23 was transmitted for a commercial building fire at 10640 Davidson Place, the Circuit City, bringing Wagon 501 as the second due Engine Company. Initial reports indicated that this was possibly a dumpster to the rear of the store. Units from Co. 511 arrived to find smoke showing from a 10 by 25 enclosed compactor that was attached by a chute to the building. Wagon 501, arriving right behind Engine 511, picked up their line and stretched an additional line in to the stock area, where they found smoke conditions from the compactor chute but no fire. Because the dampers were shut, the Wagon did not have access to the dumpster from inside. Usually these types of compactors have ports where a fire hose can be attached for extinguishment however; the ports on this compactor were not usable. Crews had to cut access holes in the compactor while Rescue 504 prepared to pull the dumpster away from the building using their winch. With the dumpster away from the compactor chute and the exposure problem eliminated, crews began to extinguish the fire while other companies ventilated the stock area. Wagon 501 went ready at 2116 hours.

Photos courtesy Co. 511. www.sjvfd.org.

WAGON FINDS AN AUTO ON SUDLEY ROAD

October 15, 2007 – At 1349 hours today, City Fire Communications sent the Wagon out for an auto in the 8600 block of Sudley road. They arrived to find a van well off. The lineman pulled the bumper line and made quick work of the fire. The Wagon went ready at 1434 hours.

SAVING OUR OWN WEEKEND

October 14, 2007 – This weekend members from the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company journeyed down to the old Lorton Prison complex for the Northern Virginia F.O.O.L.S. “Saving Our Own” training weekend. Several of our members were instructors while the others participated in the training classes. The first day involved bail outs from the second floor via self rescue ropes, bail outs using 24 ft. extension ladders, breaching of walls (brick/concrete), making access into secured windows (bars), and roof ventilation using different makes and models of vent saws. The second day involved R.I.T searches down a hotel style hallway and large area room searches. Instructors also went over then R.I.T bags, Scott verse MSA. The day finished up with multiple scenarios’ involving down/trapped firefighters. We would like to thank the NOVA F.O.O.L.S. for putting on this well thought-out training class and look forward to taking additional classes put on by the F.O.O.L.S.

WAGON FINDS ONE ON ITS ROOF

October 12, 2007 – At 0029 hours, the local was put out for a single vehicle accident at Old Mill Road and Willa Lane. Wagon 501 arrived to find a single F-350 pickup on its roof. The driver was out of the vehicle on arrival and was not complaining of injures. The driver stated that he was backing out of his neighborhood on his way to work when the accident occurred. The wagon checked for hazards and went ready at 0043 hours.

JOIN US FOR THE MANASSAS FIRE COMPANY OPEN HOUSE

October 10, 2007 – The Manassas Volunteer Fire Company will be holding our annual open house on October 20, 2007 from 10am till 3pm. The firehouse is located at 9322 Centreville Road in Old Town Manassas. During the open house we will have our apparatus on display for you and your family to get a hands on look at, you will be able to put on fire gear, have guided tours of the station, and demonstrations of emergency incidents. There will also be a a silent auction with donations from local vendors to support the fire company. Please stop in and meet the Volunteers that protect your community.

THE NEW CLASS B FOAM IS IN: AND WE MADE A MESS!!!!

October 07, 2007 – Recently the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company decided to change the foam compliment carried by the engine company. Up till now, all of our engines, with the exception of the Foam Engine, carried 30 gallons of class B AFFF 3 percent 6 percent ATC Foam. The Foam Engine, which is first due to the largest general aviation airport in the state of Virginia, carries 110 gallons of class B 3 percent AFFF foam in addition to 300 lbs of Purple-K. Since the foam carried on the engines really was not meeting our needs and was not compatible with the Foam Engines' injection system, the Chief decided that we should maintain the same type of foam across the board. And since the parking lot was in need of a good scouring, the boys laid down some suds and left the rookie with a scrub brush and a radio.

CIGARETTE CAUSES SMALL AUTO FIRE

October 05, 2007 – At 1229 hours, Wagon 501 was sent out for an auto fire in the parking lot of 9500 Godwin Drive, the Lockheed Martin site. The Wagon arrived to find a small fire in the rear compartment of an SUV. The driver of the vehicle, on their way to work, was smoking a cigarette with the back window open. It is believed that some ashes flew back into the vehicle and over the course of the morning, started the fire. The Wagon went ready at 1247 hours.

PROMOTIONS: CONGRATULATIONS TO LT. NARY AND MASTER TECH. HOLMAN

October 04, 2007 – We would like to take a moment to congratulate Lt. Mark Nary on his recent promotion to Engine Lieutenant. Lt. Nary has been with the department since August of 1996. We would also like to congratulate Master Technician David Halman on his recent promotion to Master Technician of the Engine Company. Master Tech. Halman has been with the department since August 2004. 

WAGON, TOWER, AND CHIEF RUN EXPLOSION AT CITY POWER PLANT

October 03, 2007 – At 1650 hours this afternoon, units from the 81st Battalion were alerted to a building fire at 8885 Church Street, one of the City's Generation Plants. The Wagon, Tower and Chief were quickly on the street with ten men. The companies arrived to find smoke showing from the door to the building and an exhaust stack on the roof of the generation plant. Once inside it was apparent that an explosion had occurred. Though the fire was out, the massive exhaust stacks that vent through the roof structure were glowing red hot. The Tower's crew opened up the roof and exhaust fan housing to check for extension. Meanwhile, the Wagon's crew went to work containing a large antifreeze leak that occurred when the explosion ruptured a large cooling radiator on the back side of the building. The explosion was caused by a failure of a turbo unit on one of the massive diesel engines, igniting a flash fire.