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The 68th Annual Installation of Officers Banquet
The 68th Annual Installation of Officers Banquet will be held on January 16th, 2010 at station 48. Cocktail hour will be 6 to 7 pm and dinner is set to follow, lasting until 8 pm. After dinner, the awards ceremony will begin and lead us into the beginning of another dedicated year of service.
Engine Company 28 Stretched on Another Basement Fire: 6428 Chestnut Ave
Jan 10 - At 1542 hours Engine Company 28 along with Chiefs 28A and 28B were alerted to 6428 Chestnut Ave for the house fire. Engine Company 13 arrived first and reported a 2 story single family dwelling with a working basement fire and held the stairs. Engine Company 28 found a secondary entrance on side bravo, forced entry, located a gas fed fire in the laundry room and got a line on it. Truck 12 worked on shutting down the gas at the street level, while other engine companies stretched additional lines to the upper floor to control vertical extensions. Once the gas was shut, all visible fire was quickly knocked down on all floors.
Companies 28 & 48 turn out for Basement Fire in Glendale: 12715 Sutters Lane
Jan 7 - At 1915 hours Engine and Truck Company 28, Engine 482, Chiefs 28A, 28B, 48A were alerted to 12715 Sutters lane for the house fire. Engine Company 18 arrived first and reported a 2 story single family dwelling with heavy smoke showing. Engine 482 completed the water supply and stretched a backup line. Truck Company 28 was next to arrive and took 1st due truck responsibilities, preforming a primary search, while the driver and outside vent man threw several ground ladders, ran lights, and ventilated. Engine Company 28, running as the 5th due engine, took an independent water source on the opposing street and stretched a 550' attack line through several yards and fences to side charlie and assisted units with extension on the first floor. A couple rooms were found going in the basement and were knocked down within minutes. Companies continued to open up and wet down. Units from West Lanham Hills operated for 2 hours before returning to service. Chief 48A (Miller) had side Charlie. Chief 28A (Grant) had Division 1. Chief 28B (Vazquez) had the Sutter Lane Command
Special Thanks to the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department
The West Lanham Hills Volunteers would like to thank the officers and members of the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department for allowing us to run Engine 372 out of Company 28 for a period of time over the last two weeks. We appreciate their assistance in allowing us to keep an Engine Company on the street every day. Thank you and we wish your company the best in 2010.
Engine and Truck Company 28 run Apartment Fire in Kentland: 3401 Dodge Park Road
Jan 4 - At 0327 hours Engine and Truck Company 28 were alerted to 3401 Dodge Park Road for smoke in the building. Engine Company 33 reported a 3 story garden apartment with fire showing. Engine Company 28 (3rd Due) laid in , took a position in the rear and stretched an attack line to the floor above via ground ladders. Truck 28 (3rd Due) took Rapid Interventions duties, ensuring all points of egress were accessible to companies operating inside. While scanning the building, Fireman Mike Simmons located a woman hanging from a 2nd floor window in distress as smoke and heat billowed from around her. Fireman Mike Simmons and the Outside Vent Man from Tower Ladder 33 quickly re-positioned a ground ladder and brought the occupant down to safety, where she was evaluated by awaiting EMS personnel. While that was taking place numerous rescues were being made on sides alpha and charlie of the building. With the amount of rescues taking place, Command re-assigned Truck Company 28 and Chief 28A (Grant) to search the upper floors for any occupants remaining. Company 28 operated for 1 hour before returning to service. Chief 28A (Grant) had the Search Group. Photo courtesy of Bladensburg VFD Company 9
IHOP Restaurant Fire gets Engine Company 28 on Fire Task Force: 3601 Bladensburg Road
Dec 30 - At 0140 hours units from Bunker Hill, Bladensburg, Landover Hills and surrounding jurisdictions were alerted to 3601 Bladensburg Road for the building fire. First arriving units reported a 1 story commercial restaurant with fire showing and mounted an aggressive interior attack. Firefighters were ordered out of the building due to the heavy fire load and weakening roof. Once crews evacuated, a substantial collapse of the roof occurred and units went into “heavy duty'' mode, setting up master streams, deck guns and large handlines to battle the fire. A Fire Task Force was sounded, bringing Engine Company 28 to the scene with 5 volunteers. Once on scene, Engine Company 28 completed the water supply and stretched a large diameter attack line to side alpha of the building and assisted crews with darkening down the fire. After 15 minutes of defensive operations the fire was deemed under control and crews worked well into the morning hours, opening up and extinguishing pockets of fire throughout the building. Engine Company 28 operated for several hours before returning to service.
Engine Company 28 goes to Riverdale Heights for Christmas Morning Fire: 5809 Roanoke Ave
Dec 25 - Just before breakfast, Engine 281 and Chief 28A were alerted to 5809 Roanoke Street for the building fire. Engine Company 13 was first on scene and reported a 1 story Church with smoke showing. Engine 281 secured the water supply for the first due Engine, and stretched a backup line. Crews located and extinguished all visible fire within 10 minutes of arrival. Engine Company 28 operated for 30 minutes before returning to service. Photos courtesy of Bladensburg VFD
Truck Company on Early Morning Christmas Eve Townhouse Fire in Landover Hills: 3517 Lupine Court
Dec 24 - At 0630 hours Truck 28 was alerted to 3517 Lupine Court the townhouse fire. Engine Company 30 (Landover Hills) arrived first and reported a 3 story end of the row townhouse with fire showing. Truck 28 was next to arrive and went to work, crew members gain entry, conducted a primary search and opened up while the outside team threw ladders and ventilated. Companies encountered heavy fire conditions on the 1st and 2nd floors and were able to bring the well advance fire under control within 15 minutes. Truck Company 28 continued to open up and wet down while other companies picked up and returned to service. Command held Truck 28 and Engine 30 for overhaul.
Rapid Intervention Duties for the Truck Company: 5900 Carters Lane
Dec 23 - At 0410 hours Truck 28 was alerted to 5900 Carters Lane for the house fire. First arriving units went on scene with a 2 story single family dwelling with fire showing. Truck 28 arrived as the 3rd Truck and took Rapid Intervention duties, gathering the necessary tools and equipment needed to complete such tasks and laddered all sides of the house, ensuring all points of egress were accessible to crews working inside. Truck 28 operated for 25 minutes before returning to service.
Company 28 on House Fire in Kentland: 6838 Forest Terrace
Dec 20 - At 2330 hours Engine 281, Truck 28, Chiefs 28, 28A and 28B were alerted to 6838 Forest Terrace for the house fire. Engine Company 9 was the first to arrive, to find a 2 story “triple” with smoke showing. Engine 281 secured the water supply and stretched a back-up line. Truck 28 got ladders in place, preformed a primary search on both floors, secured the utilities and opened up. Crews located and extinguished 2 set fires on the 1st floor and command held Engine companies 9 & 28 and Truck 28 for overhaul. Units from West Lanham Hills operated for 45 minutes before returning to service. Chief 28B had the Forest Terrace Command. Chief 28A had Safety.
We are sad to announce that Life Member Charles B. Wilcox passed away on Tuesday December 8th 2009. Charlie rose through the ranks from Master Driver to Captain during his tenure here at West Lanham Hills. Charlie was appointed to the District of Columbia Fire Department on December 7, 1958 and retired as the pumper driver at Engine 4 on August 23, 1980. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newman Funeral Home located at 106 Shamrock Road Chester, Maryland 21619. A reception will be held after the service at the Kent Island American Legion Post 278, 800 Romancoke Road (Route 8 South) Stevensville, Maryland 21666. The West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Wilcox family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
Special Thanks to The Bowie Volunteers
Over the course of a busy weekend with adverse weather conditions, Company 28's Engine Company went out of service. The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department was able to provide West Lanham Hills VFD with one of their reserve engines. This allowed the dedicated officers and members of the West Lanham Hills VFD to continue to provide first due coverage to our community and neighboring communities with an Engine Company. We would like to thank the Bowie Volunteers for their assistance and look forward to maintaining a great working relationship.
Engine 281, Truck 28 and Chief 28A Operate on Glen Dale House Fire with Resulting Backdraft: 2305 Prima Way
Nov 29 - Shortly before 9pm, units from the 1st and 2nd Battalions were alerted to 2300 block Prima Way in Company 18’s first due, for a report of a house on fire with people trapped. Volunteer Chief 33 (Kelleher), was first arriving and reported a 2 story single family with heavy fire showing from the garage area. Truck 28 arrived as the first truck company and immediately entered the house and began an aggressive search of the first and second floors while the crew from Engine Company 33 stretched into the house to begin knocking the fire. Shortly after entering the residence a backdraft occurred, resulting in a significant explosion that could be seen from the C/D side of the second floor. With the resulting pressure traveling the path of least resistance, Chief 28A (Grant) as well as several other firefighters near the front entrance, were thrown outward several feet through the front door. In addition, a firefighter from Engine Company 46 was briefly trapped by the explosion which caused the ceiling above him to collapse.
With several firefighters unaccounted for, command (VC33) requested a fire task force and ordered all companies to evacuate the house. Despite their operating in the bedroom above the fire and in close proximity to origin of the backdraft, the remaining members of Truck 28 exited the home without incident shortly after the evacuation order was issued.
After regrouping and an accountability check completed, command ordered crews from 33, 28 and 18 to reenter the house and resume operations. Members from 33 and 18 knocked down the remaining fire as TK28 and RE33 completed the primary search. Despite multiple reports of occupants trapped inside the home, both the primary and secondary search yielded negative results. Crews worked to open up the second floor and attic areas looking for any remaining hotspots. Command eventually held units from 33, 28 and 18 to assist investigators and complete the overhaul process. Photos courtesy of FF/PM Joseph A. Gegor from Medic 46.
This Video is dedicated to the guys who continue to get the trucks on the street, day in and day out. Guys here use motivation, brotherhood, pride and ownership to help see them through the toughest of times, on and off the job. Also, to the men who built the West Lanham Hills reputation, we will continue to uphold it. To all the firemen, who value the fire service tradition each and every day, and pass it down to upcoming generations. To our members who are no longer with us, and to all who have given the ultimate sacrifice by losing their lives in the line of duty....you will never be forgotten. Enjoy the movie.
First Due House Fire: 6508 Jodie Street
Nov 28 - At 2202 hours Truck 28, Chief 28A and Chief 28B was alerted to 6508 Jodie Street for the chimney fire. Truck 28 arrived immediately behind the 1st Engine, to find a 1 story with a basement single family dwelling with smoke showing from the roof. Truck Company 28 force entry, conducted a primary search (negative), ventilated horizontally and opened up, while the outside crew handled ladders, lights and checked for vertical extension. The fire appeared to have started in the basement and traveled through the pipe chases and the Engine Companies made quick work of it. At the 20 minute mark Command held 2 Engines and Truck 28 for overhaul. Company 28 returned to service an hour later. Chief 28B (Vazquez) had Division 1. Chief 28A (Grant) had the Jodie Street Command.
Truck 28 and Chief 28A take in a Small Thanksgiving Day Fire: 4215 Glendale Road
Nov 26 - At 0932 hours Truck 28 and Chief 28A was alerted to 4215 Glendale Road for the house fire. Engine Company 18 found a 1 story single family dwelling with a small fire in the basement. Truck arrived as the 2nd truck and took those responsibilities; laddering sides C/D, ran lights, ventilated, and perform a primary search on the 1st floor as well as a secondary in the basement (both negative). Engine Company 18 made quick work of the fire and the assignment was shortly scaled back. Truck 28 returned to service an hour later.
Small Job in Kentland: 8100 Martin Luther King Highway
Nov 20 - At 2308 hours Truck 28 and Chief 28A was alerted to 8100 Martin Luther King Highway for the building fire with one possibly burned. First arriving units went on the scene with 2 autos going next to a 1 story vehicle repair shop. Truck 28 arrived and conducted a primary search of the building and the vehicles involved (negative), provided interior and exterior lighting, ventilated and opened up. Companies operated just under an hours before returning to service. Chief 28A (Grant) had the Martin Luther King Highway Command.
Engine 484, Engine 282, Truck 28 go to 3 Alarm Fire at the Sringhill Lake Apartments
Oct 17 - At 0845 hours units were alerted to 5925 Cherrywood Terrence for the apartment fire. Company 14 went on the scene with a 3 story garden style apartment with heavy fire showing and numerous people trapped and immediately requested the 2nd alarm. This brought Engine Companies 28 & 48, Truck 28, Chiefs 28A & 28B to staging. Command requested 2 Engines from the 2nd alarm to the scene to assist units, as the fire advanced to the upper floors and eventually the cockloft, threatening the exposure buildings.
Engine Company 28 supplied the 3rd due Engine (1st alarm) and stretched an attack line to the original fire apartment, while Engine Company 48 stretched an attack line and assisted other companies in the exposure building. In total, 3 Alarms were needed to bring this blaze under control and several firefighters and civilians were injured. Units from West Lanham Hills operated for 3 hours before being released. Chief 28A (Grant) had Water Supply. Chief 28B (Vazquez) had Staging.
The Officers and Members of the West Lanham Hills Fire Department offer thoughts and prayers to the injured firefighters and civilians.
Fire Chief John Alter Inducted into the Hall of Fame
The Officers and Members of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, would like to congratulate Fire Chief John Alter for being inducted into the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association Hall of Fame. He is the 5th member of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department to join the rolls of the Hall of Fame. Every year since 1981, 10 individuals receive this prestige award; who have been determined by their department, any other department of the Association, the officers and Board of Directors of the Association, or the members of the Hall of Fame Committee who have demonstrated distinguished service to their fire department or rescue service, the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, the Maryland State Firemen's Association and to the citizens of thier own community or Prince George's County. In addition to the Hall of Fame Award, Chief Alter received the Fireman of the Year award at the Prince George's County Firemen's Convention. He was honored for his unselfish devotion and commitment to the Volunteer Fire, EMS, and Rescue Services. As well as his commitment to the West Lanham Hills and the County as a Fire Commissioner.
Billy Smith for President of the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association
The Officers and Members of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, wishes Life Member Billy Smith the best of luck in the upcoming elections. Billy Smith currently holds the office of 1st Vice-President of the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. If elected President, he will serve as a focal point and voice for the volunteers throughout Prince George's County.
Engine 281
Engine 282
28 Truck
Engine 484
Ambulance 487
Ambulance 488
Ambulance 489
Questions and comments about this site may be forwarded to the WEBMASTER. Copyright 2004 West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department Last Update: 2010-01-25 23:33:06
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