It’s getting close to that time of the year again. After being buried this winter with two major snow storms, the Bomberos are getting the itch to break out the Sombreros and the grill. On August 21st, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm the 2nd annual 34 picnic will be held at the College Park Moose lodge. Just ask anyone who was around last year and I’m sure they will tell you how much fun they had spending time with old friends (Jake)!   For more information, contact 34 or keep checking the web site for future updates.

July 19th would prove to be a big day for the 34 house. After spending the past year covering not only our first due, but most of Co 44’s (Chillum) as well, the County re-opened the house on the hill and once again staffed an Engine and Medic unit. It would not be long before calls began rolling in requiring the service of the new Engine. The day was just as busy as any other and the Bomberos spent most of the day on the street running several box alarms and other calls. At 2257 hours, Truck 34 was alerted as the first due special service for a bedroom fire in the 6000 blk of 10th Place in Co. 44‘s area. With Company 44’s Engine out of position at Washington Adventist Hospital, Truck 34 was the first arriving unit and reported heavy fire showing from side Alpha as on lookers reported a trapped occupant in a back bedroom. Without an Engine on scene and no hoseline in place, the crew quickly split into two teams and made entry into the house via ground ladders to search for the trapped occupant. With the search negative and crews from Engines 702 and 44 getting a knock on the fire, the truck crew began opening up and looking for hot spots. The reported trapped occupant was later located at a neighbors house and was in good condition. While operating on the box alarm, units from the sixth battalion were kept busy handling multiple calls in our first due including a car wreck with one trapped. At 0129 hours, Truck 34 was released for service and returned home to find out that the firehouse had been struck by lightning from a passing storm knocking out the alerting system, fuel pumps and several other important systems.

With the Engine catching it’s fair share of fire, it would be the Truck to run the next one. Just after noon, Truck 34 was altered 3rd due for the house in the 4700 blk of Nantucket Rd in the Branchville's (Co. 11) first due. First arriving units reported fire and smoke showing from the roof of a one story single family house. As the third arriving special service, the crew stood fast in the front yard as the RIC team. With the fire knocked and the incident deemed under control, command released the truck to return to service.

With the Engine crew on the air and an Ambulance crew in quarters just sitting down for lunch, the 34 house was alerted again first due to 8130 15th Ave for the apartment on fire with people trapped. Arriving first, Ambulance 348 advise they had smoke showing and people jumping from a three story garden style apartment. Engine 343 arrived on scene just moments later and stretched a line to the laundry room where they found a dryer on fire with some extension. After a quick knock and the primary search complete, command held Engine 343 and Truck 1 for overhaul. With the locals still getting into trouble and needing help, it wasn't long before PSC would be calling the Ambulance back to reality of running Medic Locals.

Around 2000 hours Engine 343 was alerted first due to the 2200 blk of Lewisdale Drive for the house on fire. Engine 343 arrived on scene of a one story single family house with light smoke showing. After stretching a line, the crew found a fire in the bedroom and quickly extinguished the same. Within minutes, the fire was knocked and the incident was scaled back to just an Engine and Truck. Engine 343 was ready for service just over an hour and a half after the initial dispatch.

Just after 2300, the station was alerted first due for the house on fire in the 2000 blk of Avalon Pl.  Engine 343 went with 7 along with Chief 34.  Once on the street, communications advised they were receiving numerous calls and believed this to be a working fire.  Engine 343 arrived on scene with heavy fire showing from a two story single family and Chief 34 (Aldridge) established the command.  The Wagon crew stretched a line to the seat of the fire and found an attached sun room and kitchen area off, extinguishing the same.  Other companies operating placed several lines in service on the floor above with some extension to the second floor and attic area.  The fire was knocked in 10 minutes and companies were held for overhaul.

With the Bomberos laying in the shade for most of the day and the outside temperatures reaching 300 degrees, the bomberos were wondering when Tito's ice cream cart was going to stop by.  Around 1600 the box was sounded for Allview Ln in 41's first due.  With most of the Sixth Battalion and a few Montgomery units operating on the house fire, the crew from 34 barely batted an eye lid.   Communications had different plans for the bomberos though and asked the Truck to fill the quarters of station 41 along with an Engine from Laurel station 10.  While on the short trip up the road the truck was asked to proceed to the house fire and assist first alarm units with overhauling due to the high heat.  After just a few minutes opening up, the crew was pulled out, sent to rehab, asked to clear and continue on the transfer.  After a very short layover at 41, the bomberos were back in the park catching some zzz’s under their sombreros for the remainder of the afternoon.

 

On Friday June 11th, Trooper 1st Class Wesley Brown lost his life while working a security detail in Forestville.  Today, a crew from 34 took the Wagon to pay their respects for Trooper Brown as he was laid to rest at a funeral service in Landover.  The CAVFD would like to send their thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of Trooper Brown.  May he rest in peace.

Just after noon, Engine 343 and Chief 34 were dispatched for a reported garage fire . Units from the 4th Battalion arrived on scene at 3300 East West Hwy and found a mysterious package that exploded next to a car. The call was upgraded bringing the Bomb Team, Haz Mat teams and multiple units from other jurisdiction to the scene.  The crew from 343 assisted with evacuations of surrounding apartment buildings and several other tasks, while Chief 34 was accountability. After six hours of standing by, the incident was deemed under control and command began releasing units.....Update...The following day, the news began reporting that the "Bomb" had actually been an acetylene tank that was stored in the trunk of a car.  The owner had tried to "Air out the car" when the gases found an ignition source.  The owner had fled the scene and was at a house in DC. 

With the Bomberos kept busy running from one side of the first due to the other, PSC asked the Engine and Ambulance to take another one at Riggs Rd and Ray Rd in Company 44's area. Units from 34 arrived to find a two car accident with one overturned and the driver pinned between the front seats.  With the Squad from 14 already on the street, the crew stretched a line and started patient care.  Squad 14 made quick work of the passenger door and assisted with removing the single occupant.  The driver was taken to a local trauma center and units were clear within 30 minutes.

Around 1930 the box was dropped for 6501 Baltimore Ave in Co. 7's first due.  Truck 34 was dispatched 3rd due and was out the door a short time later with 7.  First arriving units reported nothing evident and after making entry into the building advised they had a small fire on the second floor.  Arriving as the third due special service, the truck crew began setting up for RIC operations when command requested them to complete a secondary search and assist with utilities.  Truck 34 split crews and completed the same.  With the fire out and minimal extension command began to scale back, releasing the truck after about 45 minutes.  

A few minutes after the last Bombero was finished with his bedtime story and tucked in for the night, PSC alerted the station for a house on fire on the 1000-blk of Merrimac Dr. The Engine responded with 6 and the Ladder went with 7. Initially arriving on scene with nothing evident, the Bomberos opened the front door and were greeted with moderate smoke conditions. After locating a working fire in the basement, the engine advanced the 400' with "surgical precision" and made a quick knock on the small fire while the Truck crews handled primary searches on the first and second floors. The remaining duties were quickly handled by the balance of the box alarm and we were back in our PJs before 0300.

With a slow start to the morning, the Bomberos found time to sneak in some much needed rest from the night before. Around noon PSC interrupted their sleep after dropping the box for 1325 Nicholson Street in 44’s first due. E341 with 8 was making the turn onto Sargent Rd when communications advised they were receiving numerous calls and was starting the working fire dispatch. With smoke showing upon arrival, E341 found fire above two rooms in the attic and extinguished the same. Holding two and two for approximately 30 minutes, units picked up and were ready for service in just over an hour.

 
After 3 AM this morning and with the Ambulance already at MedStar for a trauma, E341 was alerted for the 9I at New Hampshire and Piney Branch for one trapped and on fire. E341 arrived to find a single vehicle that had lost control, ran through a telephone pole and was fully involved. With two patients outside and one confirmed trapped, E341 split crews to handle each. A passing motorist had pulled two from the wreckage and was starting CPR on one of them. After extinguishing the auto, the one trapped victim was pronounced on scene. A third victim who was conscious at the time of arrival succumbed to his injuries. Squad 14 was called back to the scene later this morning to complete  the extrication after an investigation by County Police.

As the Ambulance crew was walking out to the unit for a service call, they noticed a man walking up the front ramp. The citizen advised the crew he had been shot in the arm and was bleeding uncontrollably. The Ambulance crew called communications on the red phone asking for Medic 44 to rendezvous with the Ambulance in front of 44’s quarters and loaded the citizen for transport. With a short ride to 44 and then on to MedStar, the citizen was in good hands in no time at all. Due to blood in the station, on the ramp and a trail leading to the apartments across the street, PGPD placed the station out of service for close to twenty minutes while they conducted an investigation. After a quick wash down the Bomberos were back in business taking in routine calls for the rest of the evening

The tides are turning for the Bomberos de Langley Park. With a much needed rest for the aide bags and O2 tanks, the Engine was back at it today. At 1330 hours, Engine 343 was alerted to respond on box 34-12 to 2003 Fordham Street. Engine 343 was on the street a short time later with six, advising the next due wagon to complete the split lay.  Engine 343  went on scene with smoke showing from a three story garden style apartment. As the crew made entry into the apartment, they were met by moderate smoke and heat. The seat of the fire was found in the back hallway with extension into the bathroom. After a quick knock, command (C-12) began to release units holding two and two. Engine 343 was ready for service just under two hours.