Archive 2006

A partial collapse of the 24th floor resulted in 3 entrapments and 17 injuries. EMS units from Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax transported all patients to four different hospitals.

The Arlex Technical Rescue Team extricated two critically injured workers from under floor material and thousands of pounds of wet concrete.

The B shift have two fires in first few days of December. Fires at 511 Four Mile and 5500 Holmes Run Parkway. If anyone has pictures send them to me.

Boat 201 with crews from engine 201 and 204 make water rescue on Potomac River. A duck hunter and his dog were trapped on a small island at Dykes marsh after his boat sank. The hunter and his dog were on the small island for more than 12 hours. Belle Haven marina requested search and rescue after the hunters boat and truck were found at the marina after dark. Boats from Fairfax, Alexandria, P.G. and DCFD were involved in the search.

Boat 201 responded to the following call while involved in a multi jurisdictional drill. Boat 201 was first arriving boat to accident.

One Killed In Boat Accident In Prince William County

Driver Dies After Boat Strikes Pylon

One boater was killed after a boat he was driving struck a pylon near Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County.

The accident happened a little after 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities said the man rounded a corner and hit the pylon. The impact of the crash killed the man who was driving a 20-foot motorboat.

Rescuers responded quickly as 16 different rescue agencies were on the river conducting emergency drills on the river. Prince William Fire boats found a body in the water.

There was only one boat involved in the incident.

The pylon is one of several that mark the Maryland and Virginia sides of the Potomac

Battalion 212 arrived first on scene with fire showing sides A, B and C from the attic. A second alarm was requested.

As a side note E202 was actually dispatched and E 206 actually stayed at a fire instead of bidding on food on the stove at Southern Towers

Captain Briant Atkins will receive the 2006 Sons of the American Revolution Public Safety Fire Service Award on Saturday, 9 September, at a luncheon ceremony at the Belle Haven Country Club. Captain Atkins was chosen to receive the award based on his extensive work over the years with the Hazardous Materials Team.

Phyllis Armstrong rides along with Alexandria Fire and EMS as they help those suffering from the heat.

Captain Duane Mcmaster retires May 1, 2006 after 34 years of service. Last assignment Engine 207 C shift.

Courage, and a Community's Thanks

22 Police Officers, Firefighters and Sheriff's Deputies Honored for Valor

A Shift- At 13:38 hrs E411,R411,M411 and A411 were dispatched along with units from Alexandria City to box 1155 for an auto accident reported with entrapment on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway. Due to information received BC406 added to the box and the Rescue officer (Lt Flint)added T411 for additional manpower. R411 arrived with E207 and found a single vehicle accident into a tree. The lone unconscious driver was heavily entrapped . The vehicle was off the road way aprox 150 feet which required the use of the Hurst portable power unit. R411 with assistance form E207 extricated the driver by doing a total side removal, roof removal and dash displacement. . E411 provided suppression protection and BC406 (Capt Buckley) had the command. The driver was removed and pronounced on scene by E.M.S personnel

E411,E207,R411,T411,M411,M207,A411,BC406 EMS406

Fire at 58 S. French St. Kitchen fire first floor west end companies on C shift

Per B/C Mike Brown: Update on Ret Capt Bobby Orr
He is in Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in ICU D section. He had surgery to repair a torn aorta, surgery to repair a broken left arm, he has 4 broken ribs, he is on a ventilator, and has a chest tube to take care of fluid and swelling. Family states he is responding well to treatments but at least 2 months before he returns to this area. Address: Eastern Idaho Medical Center P.O. Box 2077 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83403 Phone ICU 208-529-6111. The hospital requests no cards or flowers till he is out of ICU.

On Thursday, December 15, 2005 Local 2068 member Captain Gregory Hedrick sustained burn injuries during a fire on US Route 1 in the south end of Fairfax County. Captain Hedrick was released from The Washington Hospital Center on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 and is currently resting at his home. The Fairfax County FIRST (Fire and Rescue Support Team) is looking for assistance in providing meals for the family of Brother Hedrick. The family consists of two adults and four children, ages eight through fourteen. Individuals and station shifts are encouraged to take this opportunity to help the family during Greg’s recovery period. If interested, please contact Kim Walmer at 540–582–7753.

If there are any questions, please contact Local 2068 Communications Director Joel Kobersteen at JKobersteen@fairfaxfirefighters.org or by cell at 571-437-4031.

Technician John Thomas past away a few hours after the following request for assistance came out. As far as I know the brothers and sisters of the Prince William Fire Department are still collecting money to assist his wife , also a Prince William Firefighter, in their time of need.

Pin Fundraiser for John Thomas

Cancer Awareness Pins

One of our Prince William County Fire and Rescue members needs your help. Technician II John Thomas is currently being treated for cancer. Johnny is seeking and receiving aggressive therapy at this time. As a result, he and his wife, Technician I Mickey Thomas, are incurring some out of pocket expenses. In an effort to support them, the Fire and Rescue Family in Prince William County have come together and organized a fundraiser.

Cancer Awareness Pins have been ordered and will be arriving soon. The pins have been donated, so 100 percent of the donations will go directly to the Thomas family. Assistant Chief Hadden Culp has approved the pins to be worn on the Prince William County Fire and Rescue uniform until June 30^th, 2006. The pin will be worn centered ¼ inch from the bottom of the pin above your rank (name plate) on the upper right portion of the uniform shirt.

The pin is pearl white representing lung cancer and measures 1 inch by ½ inch. The cost of the pin is $10.00 and will be distributed when the donations are picked up. Additional donations are welcome, but not required. The amount of the donation will be kept confidential.

Donations will be collected and secured by each worksite supervisor using the attached form. Station officers will be responsible for dissemination of the information and collection of the money. The money will be collected by Lieutenant Bryan Janda during the beginning weeks of February. Both cash and checks will be accepted. The checks should be made payable to “The Johnny Thomas Fund”, which is an account set up at the Prince William County Credit Union. Anyone who would like to make an additional donation or someone from outside the Department that would like to make a donation at this stage can also make a check payable to this account and mail it directly to:

Prince William Professional Firefighters

Attn: Johnny Thomas Fund

5521 Mapledale Plaza

Dale City, Va. 22192

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. It is much appreciated!

Bryan Janda

PWCDFR

Tower 513

The Rising Cost of Public Safety

Increasing security demands have changed Alexandria in many ways, increasing readiness and straining budgets. One of the costs of the new way of doing business is the rising demand for public safety officials — and the City Council is considering raising the pay scale of for employees of the Police Department, Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office.

“If we don’t do something, we’re going to start losing qualified people,” said City Council member Rob Krupicka. “Other jurisdictions are growing faster and paying more.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, City Council considered a new plan to bring Alexandria salaries more in line with neighboring jurisdictions. The plan would use a benchmark job analysis to pay city public safety employees at 100 percent of the average midpoint salary of five jurisdictions: Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Prince William counties.

“Public safety is extremely competitive among jurisdictions in the Washington region,” wrote City Manger Jim Hartmann. “We recognize the city’s fiscal constraints and will work on a multi-year approach to addressing these issues.”

The City Council voted to increase the average public safety employee’s salary by 5.5 percent. The Office of Management and Budget estimates that enacting the raise this year would cost the city $3.1 million, but city officials suspect more will need to be done to maintain qualified officials.

“Maybe we need to look more broadly than just at salaries,” said City Council member Andrew Macdonald. “Maybe we need to look at affordable housing also.”

Units responding to the 11:34 a.m. call to 504 North Quaker Lane found heavy fire coming from a two-story, wooden house. No one was injured in the fire, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Retired Battalion Chief James W. Ross died Tuesday, 27 December 2005.Battalion Chief Ross joined the Alexandria Fire Department in March 1, 1946 and was promoted to Captain out of Station 5 on March 25, 1957. He was promoted to Battalion Chief on February 26, 1964, and retired October 1, 1976.

The funeral service will begin at 1100 hours Friday, 30 December at the funeral home. Burial will be at noon Friday at Culpeper National Cemetery.