All three shifts traveled to Dulles Airport to use their live burn simulator.  Special thanks to the MWAA Fire Department and their training staff for another excellent training opportunity.

At approximately 2000 hours this evening FE403 B was returning from Fairfax Hospital after assisting M403 with a patient when they were dispatched as the first due engine at 4920 Wakefield Chapel Rd.  FE403 arrived and found a one story ranch style house with smoke showing from the gable end on side delta.  A line was quickly stretched, the ceiling was hooked and the bulk of the fire knocked down.  Units were on scene for an excess of 3 hours due to the attic space being insulated with blown-in-insulation.  High heat and humidity made it a long night for the City and County units.  It was a pleasure to work seamlessly with several units that don’t normally run together.

Around 1630 Foam Engine 403 (B-Shift) was riding 5 strong as we responded to 14614 Compton Rd in Centreville for a large transformer (2500 gals of mineral oil) on fire at NOVAC power sub station.  Upon arrival a small but growing fire was found. FE403 (Capt Thuot) and Haz-Mat 440 scouted the sub station, formulating a plan of attack.  With the arrival of BC443 (BC Munday) the fire attack group was put in place and the plan was implemented.  The fire was brought into control very quickly using about 50 gallons of foam from FE403 via our portable monitor.  Foam 437 was standing-by with additional product but was not needed due to the quick knock down of the fire.

At 2000 hours the house tones in both Fire Stations 3 and 33 dropped for a house fire in Station 34's district, bringing the Rescue Engine (1st due Rescue), Truck (2nd due Ladder) and Battalion Chief (2nd Battalion Management Team) to a single family dwelling on Hunter Mill Road.  Due to extremely long driveways and poor house numbering there was some confusion as to where the dispatched location actually was.  After Engine 434's officer located the house and stretched the initial attack line through the woods, all units went to work for a kitchen fire with limited extension.  Due to the confusion of which driveway to take Truck 403, at the direction of a seasoned fire officer, chose the correct driveway and took the 1st due truck assignment, made entry and kept the fire to the area of origin by rapid deployment of their water can.  Rescue Engine 433 performed a primary search of the first and basement floors reporting an all clear.  Utilities were secured by the Rescue Engine and reported to Battalion 443 for further assignments.  The fire was contained to the room of origin and after mechanical ventilation and overhaul operations were performed units were placed in service after operating for just under one hour.  There were no civilian or fire department injuries at this working incident.

City units were sent to a house fire in Box 0300.  They arrived shortly thereafter to find a small fire in the rear of the home with smoke conditions throughout the building.

The City of Fairfax Fire Department celebrated 30 years of service on May 10th.  The celebration consisted of a social hour and cocktails, an Honor Guard presentation, dinner, presentations by Chief Owens, FVFD Chief Boehm, and Local 2702 President Harman.  Several stories from the past were shared while others ended the night on the dance floor.  Congratulations to the City of Fairfax Fire Department and Local 2702!

After only being back a couple of weeks from the Suffolk Tornados, Captain Ahrens is deployed yet again with the National Capital Region’s Incident Management Team.  This time they headed to Stafford County, VA following a massive storm system that brought tornados and severe weather to the area.  The Stafford deployment only lasted a couple of days before they returned.

Units were alerted to a report of a third floor room on fire at the Best Western at 3535 Chain Bridge Road.  As Rescue Engine 433 was laying out Engine 434 arrived and stretched an attack line to the fire room.  They encountered fire from an air conditioning unit with extension.  Rescue Engine 433 subsequently supplied Engine 434.  Battalion 443 (Munday) had Chain Bridge Road Command.

Units were put on the reported Building Fire at Fairfax High School about 1430 hours.  As units were approaching they encountered a large amount of thick black smoke and flames twenty feet high.  Engine 403 took their own water on Side Delta at Entrance #17 where the fire was located.  Engine 403 made quick work of the two track and field mats that were on fire under the awning of the fieldhouse.  Truck 403 arrived and opened up the awning and ventilated the gym area.  Rescue Engine 433 checked the interior for extension.  Battalion 443 (Hendelman) had the command.  Units operated for two hours.

Captain John Ahrens serving on the National Capital Region’s Incident Management Team was deployed to the Suffolk, VA following the devastating tornadoes that ravaged that region.  Captain Ahrens served as the Logistics Section while operating for the four days he was in the area.

How often do we say lets get “back to the basics?”  Well, what about getting back to the basics of rapid intervention.  So often in the fire service today we focus our attention on new, advanced technological ways to do things.  We need to realize that the basics must be mastered before going advanced and technological.  Outlined below are a few basics rules to follow for self survival and rapid intervention. [click here for more]

By: Firefighter Patrick MacKay 

The fire service has traditionally held a history of being reactive and resistant to change.  It is often said that the first unit to arrive on the scene of an incident, sets the tone for how the incident will play out.  When you examine post-incident analysis reports, more often than not, the first unit makes or breaks the operational performance.  This article will identify some actions and behaviors that are proactive and may require a change in the way initial operations are currently done. However, these proactive actions and changes will enhance companies’ operational performance and overall fireground operations. [click here for more]