Monday June 29, 2009 at 1856 hours, E-27 and T-17 were alerted for the short circuit at 3594 Hayes Street, NE in the Mayfair Mansions. Both units arrived with an odor of smoke outside and the occupants advising of a fire in the cockloft which was quickly confirmed. The Box was filled out bringing Engine 30 2nd due. Truck 17's crew kept the fire in check with the can while the aerial and 35' ladder were deployed. Engine 27's crew advanced a line inside quickly knocking down the remaining fire. Engine 30 laid 400' 3" and advanced the 400' line to the 3rd floor backing up Engine 27.

The box was quickly scaled back to Engine 27, Truck 17, and Truck 7.

At a few minutes to 2300 hours, on the typical Sunday night in The Heights, members found an ambitious driver  trying out for the Lincoln Heights Baja Club.  17 Truck was dispatched along with the Special Operations Battalion Chief to the 300 block of 51st Street NE for a vehicle into the structure and still running.  The Truck arrived to find that a vehicle had taken the plunge down a 50 foot embankment, over a 2 foot retaining wall, cross the street, back up the curb, down a 10 foot embankment and came to rest against one of the housing project residences.  The car was still running (steering collumn popped - of course), and abandoned by the driver.  Too bad they didn't stick around, Extreme Sports was in the area ready to do an interview.  No obvious structural damage was done, and the incident was quickly scaled back to 17 Truck & Engine 27 to secure the vehicle and turn the scene over to MPD.

Where's Alan Etter when you need him?

While other members of the "East End" were concerning their time with working fires and swing rescues; others were tasked with the unfortunate assignment of representing the house in Ocean City, Maryland for the State Firemens Convention. The Pipes and Drums made several outstanding performances through out the week, the members that were not playing supported the different charity events taking place that week, from the Fallen Firefighters Foundation fundraiser to the Kentland Beach Volleyball Tournament. A great time was had by all members of the "House of Blame", proving we can all play nicely together. Hope to see you next year.  

27 Engine always gets to run the good calls!  They managed to come back in service today just in time to run the swing-set rescue.  Arriving to find a young female trapped in the seat of a swing-set, they were able to cut the chains that the support the seat, but that was as far as they got.  "Special" called for 17 Truck to assist with the further extrication.  The Truck crew carefully cut away the seat using tin-snips and freed the young lady so she could go jump on the next swing even before the crews were able to leave the scene.

It was all about John Wayne shortly after shift change this morning for #2 Platoon.   While getting ready to call for a late breakfast, two observant watchmen caught the jump for a house fire, just down the street from the firehouse.   Engine 30 arrived on the scene of 609 49th Pl. NE with a 1 1/2 story detached single family dwelling with fire showing from side "D".  30's crew advanced a line while 17 Truck's crew laddered the structure and located the seat of the fire.  The Engine's crew extinguished the blaze, while the Truck's crew ventilated, searched and checked for extension.  During overhaul, crews came upon a handgun on the bedroom floor of the fire room, which then delayed the crews for another couple hours waiting for MPD Crime Scene Investigators.  The Engine and the Truck had this one all to themselves for a while due to neighboring Engine 27 and 13 Truck both being out of service shortly before the box came in.  One minor injury was suffered during this incident.

Shortly after 6am, Engine 30, Truck 17, and other units from the 2nd Battalion were sent to 5066 Just St NE for the house fire.  E27 (First Due) arrived onscene with smoke showing from the first and second floors.  Engine 30 (2nd Due) went onscene with fire showing from Sides C and D and advanced their line through the basement and up the steps to back up E27.  Truck 17 (First Due) began a primary search, laddered both the fire and exposure buildings, and vented vertically and horizontally.  While E27 was advancing their line to the 2nd floor, E27's crew located an adult female who was unconscious on the first floor.  T17's crew assisted 2 members from Engine Co. 27 and together, the companies removed the victim to Side A of the building for treatment and transport by EMS units onscene.  Command 2 held Engines 27, 30 and Truck 17 to mop up and assist investigators.  We were later notified that despite the great effort by all crews on the scene as well as transporting EMS, that the victim had later succumbed to her injuries.

Once again, members of "The Heights" are hosting their annual tailgating party in the RFK parking lot and then making their way over to watch the game between thte Cubs and the Nats.

Date: July 19th - Platoon #3 works

Cost: $25/Person

Includes: Ticket, drinks, and food @ tailgating party.

Reserved # of tickets purchased.  First Come - First Serve!

Money Due: July 1st

Payable to Fireman Grabowski (17 Truck - Platoon #2)

This event is open to members of the 2nd Battalion and their families.

After the 10-33 events had calmed down, Truck 17 was notified it would need to relieve Truck 6 at 224 36th St. SE on the major water leak. The building had over 4 feet of water in the electrical room and all residents had to be relocated. Truck 17’s crew assisted Battalion 2 with the situation. The same building manager from the fire on 37th St. was on hand to help manage his new situation on 36th St., he hates Mondays.  

Just after 2100 hrs the members of The Heights were finally sitting down to dinner. After enjoying a good, but cold, meal and a medical local for Engine 30, the members were settling in for what they hoped would be a slow night. The ever watchful Engine Officer was monitoring Channel 011 when he heard Ambulance 30 request police assistance at 44th St. and Hayes St NE for a violent subject. To ensure the safety of the crew members 30 Engine and the Truck proceeded down towards the area. As Engine 30 turned into the block they discovered the ambulance had been stolen by the Patient and was headed right at them. Ambulance 30 crashed into the Engine Company and the Pt. was extricated from the vehicle. Police subdued the patient and all crew members were safe and accounted for. Just another day in the East End.     

NEW VIDEO

Just before 1900 hrs units with the 2nd and 3rd Battalion Fire Chiefs were alerted for a reported fire in the apartment with one inside at 305 37th St. SE. Truck 17 responded as the first due truck while Engine 30, clearing a medical local, was placed 2nd due on the run. Units arrived on the scene to find a 3-story garden style apartment building with a room off on the second floor. As Engine 19 stretched a line to the fire apartment Truck 17’s outside crew began placing ground ladders, ventilating and opening the roof hatch. The interior team conducted a rapid primary search and opened up the fire room. The fire was quickly knocked down and the assignment was held to Engine 19 and Trucks 17 and 9 (transferred to Truck 7).

Congratulations to Tech. Kevin "Bobo" Anderson the WD of Engine 30 - #3 Platoon on his upcoming promotion to Sgt., being assigned to 15 Truck - #1 Platoon!

Best of luck "Bobo"!

May 29th is Firefighter's Memorial Day!

For the past few years, members from "The Heights" have spear-headed the clean up of the markers at "The Last Alarm Garden" at Fort Lincoln Cemetery and the placing of memorial flags and American Flags at the fallen firefighters' headstones.  There are other local cemeteries that flags are placed too.

This is a day to honor and remember those who have dedicated their lives in the furthering of the greatest and most honorable job in the world.  For the career members and the volunteers,  for the Line of Duty Deaths and those who lived into a long and wonderful retirement, and for those who took the time to put others ahead of themselves regardless of what the outcome would be.

Remember this day.  Remember these men and women.  Remember H.E.R.O.E.S. Inc.. Remember no greater love than to lay one's life down in order save another's.

Thanks to the members of the Department who have put forth the effort to upkeep cemeteries and honor the brotherhood.

Thanks to I.A.F.F. Local 36 who provides the flags and the maintenance supplies.

Details still to come.  But Captain Charles Barchers, who recently retired from the DCFD, has passed away yesterday.  Captain Barchers was assigned to Engine 27 for several years and maintained a reputation as a GFO and a true fireman.  Captain Barchers was appointed to the Department on October 11, 1977.

The Brothers and Sisters from "The Heights" send their deepest sympathies to the Barchers' Family.  Rest in peace brother.  Job well done. 

1528 hours on Wednesday May 20, 2009, Engine 30, Truck 17, and Ambulance 30 were alerted for the house explosion with a person screaming at 1117 46th St, SE. Units from the Heights arrived at the corrected address of 1127 46th St, SE with smoke showing from Side "A" and fire showing from the basement windows of a two-story ordinary construction residence. While the Truck crew was deploying ladders, they realized the Side "C" wall had partially collapsed with cracks around the remainder of the house. In addition, a burnt citizen was encountered with 2nd & 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body.

Units began to make work on the fire however due to the structural integrity were quickly switched to defensive mode. During the incident, the fire spread throughout the entire basement, 1st floor, and 2nd floor. Due to excellent work though (as you can see in the video), crews were able to make quick work from outside the collapse zone with (2) heavy-duty lines and the ladder pipe operations from T-17 and T-7.
 

During the incident, a Working Fire Dispatch, Collapse Task Force, and Foam Unit Task Force were brought to the scene, as well as numerous Chiefs and additional specialty resources. Units from the Heights remained on the scene for several hours.

Well it’s been a long known fact that good ideas in the fire service are becoming fewer and farther between. But one firefighter-based motorcycle club's new motto seems to be, if you can’t be the first to have a good idea, just be the first to copy it. We here at Truck Company 17 would like to congratulate the Fire and Iron Motorcycle Club for being the first in what will no doubt be a long line of imitators of “The New Brand Name Company” - now known as The East End. Of course it could always be just a coincidence…