Around 9pm, the Truck Company from 34 hit the streets as the box was filled for a possible apartment fire in Hyattsville. As units marked on scene with nothing evident, Tower 7 marked up and stated that they had been flagged down for a triple shooting and were administering EMS care. With three people shot on the side of the road around the corner from the reported fire, it was very clear that a long night was ahead of us...

Later on that night, the prediction came true when the Adventist Express headed to Lewisdale for another shooting. Units arrived on scene to find a male patient who had been shot center-mass and immediately initiated care. Despite the efforts of all members on scene, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

As the Bomberos were perusing the aisles at the Family Dollar looking for some lunch, the Engine and Ambulance were alerted for a personal injury accident at New Hampshire Avenue & Piney Branch Road. As it turns out, one of the vehicles was being test-driven by a potential buyer when he decided to test out the crash rating by rear ending a vehicle in front of him! The test-driver was rumored to have said something to the effect of "all it needs is two fenders and a hood......but I don't think I want to buy it anymore".

Only in Langley Park.

After enjoying a rare night's sleep on a warm Friday night, units from the 4th Battalion were alerted to the 1100-blk of Linden Ave for smoke reported in a single family house. Engine Co. 44 arrived first, reporting a small fire contained to a wall in the bathroom. Truck 34 took care of the light overhaul while the "skittles" stood ready to throw every ground ladder they could get their hands on. The scene was turned over to PGFD Investigations within an hour.

Okay, we admit it. We’ve been lame with the website. Our bad.

Now that that’s out of the way, lets get everyone caught up. Despite what our excruciatingly boring homepage on the Interweb reflects, we’ve actually been pretty busy over the past few months down here in the Park. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s been going on.

1/1/12 – The Bomberos had a sleepless weekend over the New Year’s holiday weekend, taking in a total of 64 runs from Friday to Sunday. The magic show consisted of countless drunks, assaults, a couple of pedestrians struck, and four box alarms including a small first due fire on 14th Ave. Not only did the 34 house close out the year with 6557 runs, we also had the last box alarm of 2011, the first call of 2012, and the first cutting of 2012. Some things will never change.

1/20/12 – Truck 34 headed over to Branchville to lend a hand on a small fire in a single family house on Metzerott Rd. First units reported smoke showing and found a fire in the kitchen which was quickly knocked. The Truck spent about 30 minutes operating before heading home.

2/4/12 – The Truck headed up the hill to College Park to take in a small daytime fire in an assisted living high-rise. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system and extinguished by Engine Co. 12. After checking the floor above the fire and finding no extension, the Truck Company successfully completed the requisite “area drill” on Campus Drive and headed back down into the Park.

2/15/12 – Finally, the Engine took in a call that didn’t require the use of an aid bag. Engine 343 headed to Hyattsville as the 3rd due Engine company on a single family house fire. Upon arrival, the Bomberos dropped a line, took the 250’ to side Charlie and held fast as the first two lines got a knock on the fire in the attic.

2/26/12 – The Bomberos took in a first due job just two blocks from the firehouse, arriving on scene with a one story single family with heavy fire showing from three sides. The crew from Engine 343 ran the 150’ in the front door and was met with heavy fire conditions throughout. After extinguishing the front rooms and working towards the rear of the house, command sounded the evacuation tones due to a collapse concern. After the evacuation was cleared, multiple lines headed back inside to finish the job, and the fire was brought under control within 40 minutes. The Bomberos remained on scene for almost four hours before clearing the call.

2/26/12 – E343 took in its second fire of the day, running as the third due company for a bedroom fire in a Chillum garden apartment. As the special services on scene were making multiple ladder rescues, the crew from 34 advanced a backup line to assist the first due companies in knocking the fire in the 2nd floor room.

At around 1900 hrs. E341 and A348 were dispatched to University Blvd and Temple St. for the accident with 1 trapped. Units from 34 arrived on scene to find one car into a pole with the driver trapped. Rescue Squad 1 arrived on scene and went to work extricating the pt. Units from 34 deployed a protection line and assisted with pt. care. Pt. was extricated and transported to a local trauma center in under 20 minutes. Units from 34 cleared the call shortly after.

At 02:00 hrs. Truck 34 was alerted as the 2nd due truck for the house fire with people trapped in Takoma Park's first due. E702 arrived on scene to find a 2 story home with heavy fire showing. Truck 34 arrived on scene with 4 personnel and began a primary search of division 2 as well as throwing ground ladders. One victim was able to self extricate himself prior to arrival of the units and advised that no one else was inside. He was transported to a local burn center with critical injuries. Truck 34 remained on scene to perform overhaul and assist the units. Truck 34 cleared the scene at 03:45 hrs.

At 15:00 hrs. E341 was alerted to 1836 Metzerott Road for the reported apartment fire. E341 arrived on scene to find a 20 story high rise with nothing evident.

After further investigation a fire was located on the 5th floor. E341 found a small fire in the living room and made quick work of the fire. E341 remained on scene until 16:45 hrs.

At 03:58 hrs. E341 and A834 were alerted to the 2400 blk of Griffin St. in the Lewisdale section of our first due for the reported house fire. Enroute E341 was notified that they were recieving numerous calls and now reports of people trapped. E341 arrived on scene to find a 1 story single family home with heavy fire showing from side A. E341 advanced an attack line and began to knock down the bulk of the fire while truck crews from 1,12, and 14 began searches. All 3 truck companies made rescues from bedrooms throughout the home and handed them over to awaiting EMS units. A348 transported one of the victims to the local burn unit. The fire was knocked down shortly there after. Unfortunately the 3 victims have succumbed to their injuries. It was determined that there was not a working smoke detector in the home to alert the occupants. One member from Company 34 recieved burns as a result of this fire and was transported to the burn center. He has sinced been released and we wish him a speedy recovery. Please be sure to check your smoke detectors to make sure they work properly. Units from 34 cleared the scene at around 10:30 hrs.

Just after 1800 hrs. E343 was alerted first due to the 1400 blk of University Boulevard for the reported apartment fire. PSC advised that they were recieving numerous calls on this incident. E343 arrived on scene and found a 3 story garden apartment with heavy smoke showing. E343's crew deployed the 250" attack to the 3rd floor and encountered heavy smoke conditions and heat. Units began to force entry to apartments to locate the fire. E343 and TK 1 opened up and found fire conditions in the cockloft. A second alarm and then a 3rd alarm were transmitted bringing over 100 firefighters to the scene. Units from the 1st alarm as well as 2nd alarm were utilized to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes. Over 50 occupants were displaced in over 11 apartments. No civilian injuries were reported. One firefighter recieved an injury to his hand while operating on the fireground. The members of Chillum-Adelphi wish him a speedy recovery. E343 was ready for service at around 23:30 hrs.

We are asking all Prince George's County residents who support the volunteer Fire/EMS system to please call the offices of County Executive Rushern Baker (301-952-4131) and Council Chair Ingrid Turner (301-952-3094), and your District Councilperson to let them know that you are 100% opposed to the "Fire Protection Oversight Bills" (CB-060-2011 and CB-45-2011) that are currently under consideration by the Public Safety and Fiscal Management committee, and that you fully support the current Fire Commission.

The bills would dramatically alter the structure and role of the Fire Commission which has represented the volunteers of Prince George's County for 40 years. The current Commission consists of 9 representatives elected by the volunteer corporations, and is responsible for oversight of the volunteer budget, fiscal audits, and certification of volunteer officers, among other responsibilities. The proposed legislation would eliminate the elected Commissioners, replacing them with nine appointees: three representing the volunteers, three representing the career staff, and three representing County citizens at large. The new Commission would function solely in an advisory capacity to the County Fire Chief, and would have no direct control over any funding. This would severely impact the financial health of many of the County's volunteer fire department.

The volunteer fire service in Prince George's County dates back to the late 1800s. Things have changed a lot over the years, and the current combination system reflects those changes. Volunteer corporations still own 75% of the fire apparatus and 75% of the fire stations in the County. More than 1,500 volunteers stand ready to answer the call for help, day or night, and they receive the same or higher levels of training as paid firefighters. Volunteer and career personnel have successfully worked side-by-side for 40 years, and many paid firefighters begain their careers in the fire service as volunteers. Another 500 Volunteers serve in administrative and support roles. The proposed legislation will not improve that system, but could harm it irreparably.

Please support your local volunteers by contacting Mr. Baker, Ms. Turner, and your County Council District Representative

Story Courtesy of the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association website.

Just as we forcing our ride alongs to slave over a hot stove cooking us some Bombero food, the box was sounded for 9200 Edwards Way for the apartment fire. Engine 834 arrived and initially had nothing evident. After making sure there were no medical locals we could divert to, the Bomberos made it up to the 6th floor, found a small kitchen fire, and extinguished the same. The box was quickly held to 2 and 2, and the Engine returned to quarters about an hour later to see if the ride alongs know how to cook. Bring on the Pepto Bismol!

At around 10:30 hrs. Truck 34 was transferring to Company 11 while units operated on a house fire in Company 13's area. At 10:50 hrs. Truck 34 was alerted as the 1st due truck for the reported building fire in the area of Cherry Hill Road and Baltimore Avenue. Rescue Squad 1 arrived on scene and reported an auto dealership with smoke showing. Truck 34 arrived on scene and went to work performing primary searches as well as laddering the building. A small fire was located in the front showroom and Engine Company 31 made quick work of the fire. All searches proved negative and command held Truck 34 and Engine Company 31 for overhaul and to assist the investigators. Truck 34 was ready for service at 00:44 hrs.

At 10:00 hrs. Truck 34 was alerted as the 3rd due special service to the area of Patterson Street and Finns Lane for the reported house fire. Company 28 arrived on scene to find a 1 story single family with smoke showing. Truck 34 arrived on scene and was assigned the duties of RIT. The truck crew also threw several ground ladders to mutliple sides of the structure. Units on scene made quick work of the fire and the Truck was ready for service at 10:45 hrs.

The weekend sure proved busy for the Bomberos. At 00:57 hrs. E343 was dispatched to the 1000 blk of Merrimac Drive for the reported house on fire. E343 arrived on scene with 4 personnel to find a 1 1/2 story single family home with smoke showing. The crew from 34 and 1 found a mattress off on the second floor. Command held units from 34 and 1 to open up and assist the investigators.

Just as E343 was clearing the house fire, the accident with entrapment was dispatched for the 8300 blk of Adelphi Road. E343 cleared the fireground and was added to the run. Rescue Squad 1 arrived on scene with a 2 car MVC with 2 patients trapped in an overturned SUV. E343 pulled a protection line and assisted with patient assessment. A total of 7 patients were transported to local trauma centers for their injuries. E343 remained on scene until 03:10 hrs. E343 was then alerted for 2 seperate cuttings after clearing the accident. Local trauma centers were once again shut down thanks to the locals of Langley Park.

At 00:25 hrs. Truck 34 was alerted for the 2nd alarm apartment fire in the 11000 blk of December Way in Company 712's area. Units from Montgomery were on the scene with a 3 story garden aparment with heavy fire conditions on the top floor. Units requested a 2nd alarm immediately upon arrival. Truck 34 arrived on scene with 4 personnel and was sent to the fire apartment to open up and check for extension. Truck 34 also opened up in the adjoining apartment to check for extension. 2 firefighter were injured while battling the blaze. The members of Chillum-Adelphi wish them a speedy recovery. Truck 34 cleared the fireground at 02:10 hrs.