We Regret to Inform You of the Death of One Of H.E.R.O.E.S Founding Members, Mr. Leonard B. (Bud) Doggett.  Mr. Doggett passed away August 13, 2008 at the age of 87. 

Mr. Doggett spent a lifetime assisting the public safety community as one of the founding members of H.E.R.O.E.S., Inc.    He is remembered for his many charitable ventures to help the families of fallen firefighters and police officers.  The brothers from Engine 30 and Truck 17 wish to express our sincere condolences to the Doggett family as well as our appreciation for the life and accomplishments of Mr. Doggett.

All Department flags will be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until after the funeral, August 19, 2008. 

Viewing Gawlers Funeral Home - Wisconsin Ave. in Friendship Heights Sunday 3 to 6pm Monday 1 to 3 and 5 to 7

Funeral Tuesday 10am at St. Patricks Catholic Church 10th & G, NW (Blue
Mass)

Internment Oak Hill Cemetary 30th and R Sts NW

Repass at Capital Hilton 16th and K St NW

HEROES, Inc. is dedicated to aid families of law enforcement officers and fire fighters who have died in the line of duty in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.

At 0309 hours units with the Second Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for a reported Gas Leak in the building at 130 42nd Street N.E. Engine 30 arrived on the scene expecting to smell the order of natural gas, as the engine gained entery to the building they noticed the haze and smell of smoke. The engine officer then informed communication to fill the box for an apartment fire. As the box was being filled the crew from engine 30 pulled their 250' 1-1/2"  attack line to the basement door apartment . Truck 17 gained entry to the apartment  where they were met with heavy smoke banked down to the floor. The Engine searched for the fire as the truck did started ventilating. Engine 30 continued down the hallway searching for the fire and did a search of the apartment the same time. Engine 30's lineman and layout man searched both bedrooms and found a male in bed needing assistance getting out of the building. Engine 30 handed the victim off to T-17's Barman while Engine 30 finished searching for the fire, eventually finding the fire in the kitchen.

Engine 30:   Tech Mazzeo     Lt Kuhn     F/F Santos     F/F Wolfe
Truck 17:     Tech Hicks    Lt  Roach   F/F Hope    F/F Faulkner    F/F Myles
Ambulance 30:  F/F Grabowski    F/F Baldwin

PICTURES SOON TO COME

DC Police with the help of DC Fire Investigators arrested 32-year-old male and charged him with arson after setting his girlfriend's southeast apartment on fire. Before they could arrest him, firefighters had to rescue him from the burning apartment.

In the late evening hours, the Second and Third Battalions were alerted about smoke in the apartment building at 3900 D St. SE. Engine 30 arrived on the scene of a 4 story garden apartment building with smoke showing from the top floor and a person in the window. As the crew advanced, the 1 ½" attack line to the fourth floor the officer relayed to incoming Truck Companies that a victim was trapped in a fourth floor apartment. As Engine 30 tried to gain entry into the burning apartment they were met with a large pile of debris that had been stacked behind the door. With fire conditions and heavy smoke seeping from the door the crew managed to force their way into the burning apartment. Once inside the crew found a large pile of furniture and the living room on fire.

The Lineman (F/F Santos) quickly knocked down the fire as the officer (Lt. Kuhn) and layout man (F/F Hoagland) began ventilation. The lineman worked his way to the back bedroom and located an unconscious victim inside the room. As the layout man continued with hydraulic ventilation the lineman with the help of the engine officer removed the victim from the apartment and passed him to awaiting firefighters in the interior stairwell. As the victim was taken to the EMS units on the scene (Ambulance 30), the crew from 30 Engine returned to the hoseline and continued the job. The remainder of searches proved to be negative. Ambulance 30 was able to revive the unconscious victim who was then transported to an area hospital.

Engine 30: Tech. Mazzeo Lt. Kuhn F/F Santos F/F Hoagland

Ambulance 30: F/F Grabowski F/F Baldwin

FIRE AUDIO LINK ATTACHED

0135 hours, Sunday August 10th, Units from the 2nd & 3rd Battalion were called to 425 60th St, NE for the apartment fire, bringing Engine 30 & Truck 17 first due. While en route, Communications advised the 2nd BFC that the fire was reported to be in the bathroom of Apartment 5. Units from "The Heights" arrived to find smoke showing from a 2 story brick apartment building. Engine 30's crew advanced the 200' line to the 2nd floor and found fire in the bathroom with extension into the attic. A quick attack from Engine 30 and the hook-man of Truck 17 brought this fire under control in less than 2 minutes. The remainder of Truck 17's crew vented vertically and horizontally, conducted a quick search, and handled Utilities. The Box was quickly scaled back to 1 & 1. Engine 30 & Truck 17 remained on the scene for 45 minutes and left with the Fire Investigator.

On Sunday August 3, 2008, Sgt. S. Burton from Truck 17 #4 was seriously injured in a car accident while driving home from work. Sgt. Burton was transported to P.G. County Hospital where he underwent surgery for multiple injuries. Sgt. Burton is doing well and an update will be provided on him soon. Sgt. Burton will be off for an extended period of time and the Brothers from Da Heights, as well as the members in Chinatown, wish Sgt. Burton a speedy recovery as we keep you and your family in our thoughts. You need to get well soon Sgt. Your wife isnt going to be the only one changing diapers come the 19th.

On Monday August 4, 2008, Firefighter/Technician N.D. Powell from Truck 17 #1 (Tillerman) became ill while performing the Fire Departments' new Stress Test. Technician Powell was admitted to Washington Hospital Center and after successful surgery, is recovering nicely. Technician Powell will be off for an extended period of time and we wish him a healthy and speedy recovery.


Any further information regarding hospital visitation and or member's condiitons should be directed to a company officer at 2/673-3230

Tuesday August 5th, in the early evening hours, Truck 17 was returning from PG Hospital after delivering dinner to Sgt Burton, who still remains hospitalized from his accident. At 1753 hours, the OUC received several phone calls of a house on fire at 139 49th St, SE, brining Engine 30 & Ambulance 30. Seconds after dispatch, Engine 30 arrived reporting smoke showing from the rear of a 2 story duplex. The 200' pre-connect was quickly advanced where the crew found fire on the rear porch extending through the roof. Surprisingly though, a young child, was found to be actively fighting the fire inside of the porch with a garden hose, and had extinguished the majority of it. Upon his departure, Engine 30 extinguished the remainder. Truck 17 was added to the Working Fire Dispatch. However, within minutes, the entire Box Assignment was held to E-30 & T-7.

While members of 27 Engine and 17 Truck were finishing up overhaul operations at 1619 Olive Street NE, a local alarm assignment was dispatched for the area of Polk Street and Olive Streets NE. The call was for smoke in the area, however the caller advised communications that saw no smoke or fire, only heard a loud boom. Curious, members of 17 Truck made their way down Olive Street just to make sure, and discovered a fire on a rear porch in the 4600 Blk of Quarles Street. Truck 17’s crew put a quick knock on the fire with the water can, and the assignment was held with Engine 17 to wet the area down. The crew of Truck 17 returned to Olive Street to complete overhaul.   

At 2256 hours units with the Second Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for a reported house on fire next to 1619 Olive Street NE. Truck 17 was clearing a medical local in the first due and were placed first due on the box. Engine 27 arrived on the scene of a one story single family home with fire showing from the Charlie and Delta sides. Truck 17 arrived shortly after and the crew immediately went to work. The interior crew conducted a rapid primary search and located the seat of the fire as the exterior crew worked diligently to open the windows and roof, throw ladders and remove plywood. Once opened up the interior companies of 17 Truck, Engines 27 and 8 located several rooms off in the C-Charlie and D-Delta quadrants of the home extending down the hallway to the living room. Engine 30 clearing another call was placed 5th due on the box, arrived and laid an independent water supply and advanced a line to back up the interior crews. Within several minutes the bulk of the fire was knocked down and Truck 17 and 13’s crew worked to open up the home. The alarm was then scaled back to Engine 27 and Trucks 17 and 13 to assist investigators and complete overhaul operations.  

FIRE AUDIO LINK ATTACHED

HELMET CAM FOOTAGE ATTACHED

On Aug. 2nd, Members of 17 Truck along with fellow DC firemen, raced for the cure.... on Big Wheels!  Yes, the childhood toy we all loved made a come back for the first annual Dewey Beach Big wheel Race and Pub Crawl for Breast Cancer.  17 Truck, represented by Dougie Clime and Phil Doughty, made a strong showing with what may have been the "most pimped" bikes of the entire endeavor.  Sporting freshly made pink T-shirts and Helmet Shields, the DC Firemen made a valiant effort to come in first.  However, ultimately the efforts were thwarted by several "petit" women sporting even brighter pink shirts.  In the end all had fun supporting a good cause.... Saving Second Base!

At 0802 hrs units with the Second Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for a reported apartment fire at 4264 Benning Road NE. Units from “The Heights” arrived on the scene of a 3-story brick apartment house with smoke showing from the third floor. Engine 30 advanced the 400’ preconnect line into the building as the Truck crew threw multiple ladders and opened up. Interior crews found a kitchen on fire in a third floor apartment and made quick work of it. Battalion 2 held Engine 30 and Truck 17 to conduct overhaul and wrap up.  

It had been a busy day in the Heights as the members finally finished up with dinner. A series of medical locals, automatic fire alarms, a stolen auto into a building and a car stranded in 3 inches of water (that’s right inches) rounded out the morning activities for the crews. At 1950 hrs units with the Second Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for a reported house on fire next to 5082 Jay St. NE in the Deanwood section. The original assignment was Engines 19, 8, 10, 18 and 15, Trucks 17 and 13, Rescue Squad 3 and the 2nd and 3rd Chiefs. Both Engines 30 and 27 were clearing runs in their respective first dues and requested to run, which was granted. Truck 17 arrived first on the scene of a 2-story duplex with smoke showing from the second floor, and corrected the address to be 5080 Jay St. NE. A neighbor was on the front porch and advised the Truck crew that he did not know where the fire was. The interior team from Truck 17 did a rapid primary search for victims and fire on the 1st and 2nd floors. The exterior team threw multiple ladders and removed bars. Crews encountered smoke conditions on the top floor but no fire. Engine 27 advanced a pre-connected line into the alpha side, and together with 17 Truck members determined the fire to be in the basement, securing the basement door and communicating to incoming units. Engine 30 arrived on the scene in the rear with smoke showing from the basement and a steal door and frame blocking their entrance. Hearing this the barman from Truck 17 advised the officer and relocated with the hookman to the basement entrance, forcing the door for 30 Engine. Once inside the crews found a room off in the basement and made quick work of the fire as 13 Truck arrived and also threw multiple ladders and ventilated the rear. Command held Engines 30, and 27, Truck 17 and 13 to assist investigators.       

Photos by J. Deale 27 Engine

Congratulations to Sid Polish (Truck 17#1) and his wife Kelly, on the birth of their bouncing baby girl who was born Saturday morning at 02:32 hours.  Baby Teagan Ruth Polish weighed in at 7 pounds 11 ounces; and stands at a staggering 19-1/2 inches tall. Mom, baby, and Big Brother Jake are all at home doing just fine.

Units from Prince George's County, Montgomery County and The District of Columbia Fire Departments were dispatched to 3000 blk of Bladensburg Rd N.E for the house on fire. Units went on the scene with fire showing from top floor of a balloon frame dwelling. Firefighters were able to make an agressive interior attack on the fire and were able to bring the fire under control within 15 minutes. E809 (Bladensburg), 8, 10, 27, 30, T-706 (Mont. Co.) & T-17 RS 1, BFC1 BFC2 WFD E18 T13

The brothers from "The Heights" took a few days of rest from running the countless medical locals in the east of the river vortex, and headed out to the outer banks for some fishing and sites.  The boys braved the swells heading out of  the inlet to the fishing grounds and tempted the thunder and lightning gods for an hour or two.  Then fair weather hit when they made into the gulf stream and the sun was shining by noon.  The brothers landed a couple sailfish, a dozen tile fish, a wahoo, and a handful of dolphin.  Pilot whales and porpoises added to the sites. 

Thanks to Captain Danny and Mate Gregg on the "Point Runner" for a great time... see you again next year.   www.pointrunner.com

Thanks to the "Old Head" who took the brothers in with "Old School."

More pictures to follow!

Dennis, Bowie, Jason, Phil, Steve, Riffe
 

Just as the members of The Heights were finally sitting down for dinner, units with the Second Battalion Fire Chief were alerted for a reported fire in the basement of 426 21st Street NE. The initial assignment brought Engine 30 5th due Engine, Truck 17 second due Truck and firefighter staffed Ambulance 30 first due ambulance. Enroute another Engine cleared a call dropping Engine 30 from the assignment. Engine 8 arrived on scene of a two story middle of the row rowhome with smoke showing. Engine 18 arrived in the rear with fire showing from the basement. 17 Truck arrived in the rear as 18 Engine was stretching their 1 ½ attack line into the basement. Rescue Squad 3 advised they were coming from Greater Southeast Hospital and would be slightly delayed, hearing this the interior crew from Truck 17 conducted a rapid primary search of the basement area, removing one feline and finding all others negative. Crews found an extremely cluttered room off in the basement level and put a quick knock on the fire. Trucks 17 and 7, Engines 18 and 17 were held to complete the overhaul process.