Confined Space Fire @ Building 7

In the evening hours of June 23rd the units from NSABF&ES were dispatched for a reported fire in a mechanical area access hole outside of Building 7. Units arrived on the scene to find a small brush fire in the leaves at the bottom of the hole. Engine 750 quickly extinguished the fire and all units cleared a short time later.

House Fire in Co. 26's Area

In the afternoon hours of June 9th Engine 750 responded 4th due for a reported house fire in Company 26's area. Arriving the same, the crew deployed the 400' attack line to Division 2 and assisted with checking for extension. Finding no extension, the crew returned to service a short time later.

Engine 750 with lines deployed

Small Kitchen Fire @ Building 9

Shortly before 5pm on June 3rd Engine 750, Ambulance 750, and Brush 750 were alerted for a reported automatic fire alarm at Building 9. While enroute, dispatch advised of a phone call reporting a microwave on fire with smoke in the room. Units arrived and Engine 750 found a small fire contained to a microwave and held themselves for smoke removal. Units returned to service about 20 minutes later.

The remnants of the potato and paper towels after 15 minutes on high. Remember folks, paper towels will burn when heated, even in a microwave. 

HazMat @ Building 70B

During the afternoon of June 3rd, Engine 750 was alerted for a small acid spill at the loading dock for the Uniformed Services University. While enroute, units were advised of an over filled battery that spilled onto the loading dock. Mutual aide assistance was request for the hazardous materials unit from NIHFD.

Units worked for about 30 minutes to contain and neutralize the small spill and the scene was turned over to the USUHS Safety Office.

Near Drowning @ Building 17

In the early afternoon hours of June 3rd Ambulance 750 and Engine 750 responded for a report of "one not breathing" at the pool inside Building 17. Units arrived on the scene to find a young man who had been revived by on duty personnel and bystanders prior to our arrival. The patient was rapidly transported to a local ER by Ambulance 750. It is believed that the total time between 911 activation and arrival at the ER was less than 9 minutes, with a total time from the patient being found in the pool to arrival at definitive care at somewhere around 11 minutes total.

NSAB F&ES would like to give an "oustanding job" to the staff and bystanders at Building 17 for their quick action which resulted in saving this young man's life.

Anyone seeking additional information on this incident can contact the NSAB Public Affairs Office.

Thoughts on Recent Line of Duty Deaths in Houston, Texas

As of May 20, 2013 the FEMA website that tracks firefighter fatalities shows 33 deaths in 2013. This of course does not include the 4 firefighters lost on May 31st in Houston while operating at a multi-alarm hotel fire.

Not discounting the loss of life from vehicle accidents or health related reasons, but this article will focus on emergency scene fatalities. With the Houston incident, the total for 2013 now sits at 20 fatalities from either being struck by a vehicle on an incident on as a result of interior structural firefighting. These 20 losses are a substantial statistical anomaly as we currently show 54% of all fatalities being within those two categories. Historically heart attacks are at 46.8% with trauma and asphyxiation at 27.9% and 8.4% respectively.

These numbers should open eyes within the fire service and have everyone take a moment to reflect on our jobs and refocus on efforts to remain vigilant while operating on emergency scenes.  Everyone should focus on the dangers that are inherently present and utilize our knowledge and skills to operate in the safest, yet most effective, means possible.

In reflecting on these losses, a new picture has been floating around the internet that provides a stark image of what is left in the engine room of nearly every firehouse in the country when a unit is on a run.

The image of boots left laying on an empty engine room floor is one that every firefighter will recognize as an image that means the men and woman have left on a run and not just for a ride. It is a heavy heart that finds this scene knowing those boots will remain empty forever after.

These types of images, and what they reflect, make those outside the fire service wonder what drives someone to be a firefighter and what drives firefighters to continue on after such tragedy. These questions can be summed up with two quotes from former Fire Department City of the New York Fire Chief Edward F. Croker. 

“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a firefighter The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the firefighter has to do believe that his is a noble calling. There is an adage which says that, "Nothing can be destroyed except by fire." We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor. We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind. (But, above all; our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men-the work of God Himself. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even at the supreme sacrifice. Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and to make us serve the general purpose of human society.”

-- Chief Edward F. Croker FDNY circa 1910

“Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.”

-- Chief Edward F. Croker, FDNY,
speaking upon the death of a deputy chief and
four firefighters in February of 1908

It is my hope that every firefighter who dons the uniform takes the time each day to reflect on their chosen profession and understand what it means and what it takes to have chosen, what is truly, the best job in the world.



Insulator Fire @ Medical Center METRO...Again

Shortly before 9am on June 3rd Engine 750, along with other units from Montgomery County and NIH, was dispatched on Box Alarm 51-1 at the Medical Center METRO for reports of smoke in the tunnel near the station.

Engine 750 arrived first due with nothing evident and the station not being evacuated. Crews from 50, 51, and 6 entered the subterranean station as the Recon Group and, after meeting with METRO Police, were informed the incident was approximately 2500 feet north of the station and was being handled by METRO Track Maintenance. 

After conferring with OCC, Command returned the units with no service required.