WCVFRA PHOTO TEAM
 
AUGUST 31st- Rock's Pizza on the Square destroyed
In the early Sunday morning hours of August 31st, crews from the Hagerstown Fire Department responded for a building fire at Rocky’s University Pizza at 1 Public Square. The owner of the business, Vinnie DiCola was asleep in his second floor apartment above the restaurant when he awoke to the odor of smoke. When he went to investigate he found the building was filling up with heavy black smoke. Occupants in the building were evacuating as Fire Department arrived.

At 05:41 hours, crews on the box assignment were dispatched and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the structure. Captain Pile of the Hagerstown Fire Department arrived and confirmed to dispatch that they had a working fire and assumed Command. After a rapid assessment of the scene, Command requested all remaining City Fire Department Engines to be dispatched to the scene as well as the Emergency Air Unit and a Medic Unit on the Working Fire Assignment.

Crews on the scene made entry into the restaurant to begin attacking the fire as it spread across the ceiling. While crews worked to contain the blaze, search and rescue operations were being conducted on the second floor where the owner’s dog was found. Firefighters were able to rescue the animal bringing him out a second floor window down ground ladders. All other occupants in the building were able to safely evacuate the structure.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
 
AUGUST 30th- Funkstown annual Duck Race is a success!
Normal Labor Day activities were underway this year at the Funkstown Fire Company as firefighters prepared Saturday morning for a long day ahead. On top of running medic assist calls and vehicle accidents in there are, they were faced with cooking chicken and rustling up ducks in their spare time. This Saturday the 30th of August marked the Annual Duck Race the Fire Company has been holding yearly for the past few years.

The event is a fundraiser the Fire Company puts on during the Labor Day Weekend each year. The event started out as a bi-yearly event but turned annually in 2005 when the department saw the need for more income to support fire department operations. Larry Iseminger of the Fire Company chaired the event. Some say this was one of their best years for the Duck Race. Over 1,750 plastic ducks were sold for the fundraiser ranging from $5 each to $25 for seven ducks.

Spectators lined up along the Antietam Creek to watch. As the clock struck 2:00 o’clock, the House Siren used to alert firefighters to calls sounded signaling the release of the duck over the side of the bridge. From there the ducks slowly floated down stream to the finish line where several members of The Funkstown Fire Company were wading in the creek waiting to catch the ducks as the crossed the finish line. The Antietam Creek, which runs behind Funkstown’s Station, was low for this time of year, which made the race a little slower than usual.

Some people watching cheered on their ducks as they approached the finish line. The first duck to pass belonged to Russell Donovan who was awarded the Grand Prize of $300. His duck was then followed by Jack Garvin’s duck, which won the 2nd Place of $200 dollars. The final Prize for 3rd Place was awarded to Marie Tolbert consisting of $100.

Funkstown had an all around great fundraising event, which also consisted of the Chicken & Pit Beef Barbecue that they held the same day. The barbecue was so popular that they sold out of everything they made by 1:00 o’clock that afternoon. Firefighters gilled up the barbecue, went swimming with the ducks and raffled off a $300 Gift Certificate donated from Martin’s Food Store in Hagerstown. This Labor Day Weekend festivity brought in over $7,000 to the Fire Company.
 

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
AUGUST 22nd- 2 Alarm Fire North Of Hagerstown
On the afternoon of August 22, 2008 Washington County Dispatch took reports from a passer by that flames and smoke were coming from the top floor of a house at 850 Northern Avenue. Emergency crews on BOX 27-4 were immediately dispatched out for a reported attic fire. Initial crews from Long Meadow, Maugansville, Hagerstown and Washington County Special Operation responded out on the assignment. A follow up call from Firefighter Matt Byard from Long Meadow reported fire showing and confirmed crews had a working fire. This message was relayed on and Deputy Chief Hopkins immediately requested the Working Fire Assignment.

As additional units were being toned out on Channel One, Captain Chris Turner from Company 27 arrived and confirmed that he had a two-story structure with fire showing. Captain Turner assumed Northern Avenue Command and Deputy Hopkins had fire attack operations. Firefighters on the scene were faced with high temperatures and heavy fire load during there initial arrival. As crews began to battle the blaze, fire was found on the first and second floor of the structure. Crews worked to control the blaze as Command sized up the situation seeing the need for fresh manpower. With this Command requested the second alarm assignment.

With a manpower pull of over 50 firefighters, crews worked to get the blaze knocked down and under control within 40 minutes from the time of the initial alarm. Crews worked for an additional half hour to conduct overhaul operations checking for further extension and knocking down hot spots as they were found. Fire marshals from Hagerstown initially responded to assist State Fire Marshals who were committed on a hostage situation in Hancock.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
AUGUST 14TH- Hancock responds to I-68 rollover
On Thursday afternoon of August 14th, emergency crews from Hancock Fire & Rescue Companies along with Allegheny County Orleans Fire Co.43 responded out for a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 68 near the county line around 13:08 hours. Washington County had reports of a vehicle that had wrecked into a guardrail. Due to conflicting reports on the exact location, crews were started from Allegheny County as well as the assignment from Washington County.

State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst (FM26) was in the area and the first to arrive on the scene to confirm the accident was just east of the county line in Washington County. Crews arrived to find a four-door passenger vehicle, which rolled over hitting the guardrail entrapping the patient. Assistant Chief Clingerman of Orleans Fire Co.43 arrived on the scene and assumed Interstate 68 Command.

After an assessment Command reported they had one confined to the vehicle. Crews from Hancock Fire Co5 and Orleans Co.43 worked together to perform the extrication removing the roof of the vehicle to make better access to the patient. Command reported the extrication complete at 13:48 hours. Once extrication was complete, the patient was quickly packaged and fully boarded. Once loaded Medic 591 from Hancock Rescue Co.59 began transport to Cumberland Memorial classifying the patient as a Priority 2 Category “C” Trauma.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
AUGUST 10TH- Funkstown Co.10 and Boonsboro Co.69 responds to a PIA
On August 10th, Washington County dispatch took multiple calls reporting a vehicle accident on Old National Pike in the area of Cool Hollow Road. Funkstown Fire Co.10 was alerted with Rescue Company 69 out of Boonsboro at 7:15 p.m. Engine 101 and Chief Robert Fraley from Company 10 arrived on the scene two find a black SUV into a tree and a white SUV into a driveway with one occupant still in the black SUV. Chief Fraley assumed Old National Pike Command and reported one patient entrapped to dispatch.

As crews from Funkstown and Boonsboro worked to stabilize the vehicle and begin extricating the patient, Command requested a second BLS unit to the scene for the priority three patients he had not entrapped. Emergency crews on the scene along with off duty EMS personnel that stopped to assist tended to the patients that were found out of the vehicle while ALS focused on the entrapped patient classified as a Category “C” Trauma. Crews worked for nearly twenty minutes to extricate the patient in the black SUV. As crews were removing the entrapment, Community Rescue was on the scene tending to the two Priority 3 patients.

Command reported entrapment extricated at 7:40 p.m. and advised they had three patients that would be transported to Washington County Trauma Center. Once all patients were in the medic units and ready for transport, Command was terminated by Chief Fraley. Community Rescue Co.75 transported one Priority 2 Category “C” trauma and one Priority 3 walking wounded for check up along with Boonsboro EMS who transported the Priority 2 entrapment who was also classified as a Category “C” Trauma.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
AUGUST 10TH- Clear Spring Co.4 responds to rollover on Interstate 70
CLEAR SPRING, MD - Interstate 70 was shut down for a few hours following a two vehicle accident near the Clear Spring exit at the 18 mile marker. Emergency crews from Clear Spring Fire & EMS Companies responded out on August 10th around 12:05 p.m. Providers raced to the scene as reports flooded dispatchers with reports of the vehicle rolling over into the woods.

Crews arrived to find one vehicle in the median and the other on it’s roof. Lieutenant Jeff Jenkins of Clear Spring Fire Co.4 arrived and assumed I-70 Command and reported one patient still confined to the overturned vehicle. With Rescue Squads from Clear Spring and Williamsport enroute, crews on the scene worked to stabilize the vehicle. Command assessed the situation and immediately requested MSP Aviation as well as a second BLS unit from Williamsport Fire & EMS along with an additional engine to establish an LZ for Trooper 3. Paramedics kept assessing the patient during extrication as crews raced against time. Command reported extrication complete at 12:29 hours

The patient who was confined was classified as a Priority 1 Category “A” trauma and was flown by Trooper 3 to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Three additional patients were transported by ground to Washington County Trauma Center by Williamsport Paramedic 291 and Clear Spring Ambulance 492. Once all patients were clear of the scene, FD units began wrapping up as MSP began their investigation into the cause. Command was then terminated by Lieutenant Jenkins at 12:56 p.m. and the scene was turned over to Maryland State Police.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
AUGUST 9TH- Clear Spring Co.4 responds to motorcycle into a pole west of town
CLEAR SPRING, MD - On Saturday the 9th of August, Washington County Dispatchers received reports of a motorcycle accident west of Clear Spring. Crews were dispatched out at 2:38 p.m. that afternoon after reports came in that the motorcycle stuck a utility pole. Clear Spring Fire & EMS Companies responded out with MSP Aviation’s Trooper 5. Due to reports to dispatch, on duty ECS’s felt the need for aviation.

Clear Spring crews arrived to confirm one motorcycle into the pole. Lieutenant Reiff of Clear Spring Fire Co.4 arrived and immediately assumed National Pike Command. The Paramedic assessed the patient classifying him as a Priority 1 Category “A” Trauma. Command relayed this to dispatch who then pre-alerted Washington County Trauma Center with the information.

Crews on the scene were able to quickly package the patient for transport. Once packaged, crews began transport by ground to Washington County and canceled aviation on the call.

Once Paramedic 492 began transport to Washington County Trauma Center, Command was terminated by Lieutenant Reiff and the scene was turned over to MSP. At last report, the rider involved was in stable condition and Maryland State Police were investigating the accident.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
JULY 6TH- Smoke detector saves a life in Halfway Maryland
In the early hours of a Sunday July 6th, the morning silence was broken by a high pitched beeping sound at the house hold on Gay Street in halfway. The resident there was awoken by her smoke detector going off. When she awoke, she found her residence filling up with smoke. She went to see where it was coming from when she found it was a dehumidifier on fire in the basement of her residence. She quickly called 911 and evacuated the residence.

The Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway (Co.26 was dispatched with Funkstown Fire (Co.10) for a dehumidifier on fire in the residence. Firefighters arrived at 17543 Gay Street so find smoke showing and the residence had been evacuated. Assistant Chief Jamie Drawbaugh from Company 26 arrived and assumed Gay Street Command. Halfway firefighters made entry on side “B” to be met at the door with a heavy smoke condition. Command immediately requested the completion of the Box.

As crews from Halfway made entry into the residence, crews from Potomac Valley Fire Co.11 arrived on scene with Engine 111 in place of Company 10 and reverse laid while awaiting the arrival of Williamsport Company 2 and the Rescue Squad from Funkstown. Upon the arrival of additional units, crews on the scene were able to have the fire out and the scene under control utilizing a water can to extinguish the fire. The fire damage was limited to the dehumidifier and its surroundings. The residence also suffered smoke damage but may have been worse if the homeowners had not had a working smoke detector.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM
 
JULY 4TH- Leitersburg responds to Working Basement Fire
While most families were out preparing for a night of fireworks on the evening of the 4th of July, firefighters from Leitersburg along with Waynesboro, Longmeadow and Smithsburg were responding out for a report of a smoke coming from a building on Leitersburg Smithsburg Road. Washington County 911 took reports from a neighbor reporting smoke coming from their neighbor’s house.

Initial crews were immediately dispatched out for smoke coming from the structure at 20:37 hours. Engine 92 from Leitersburg Fire was the first arriving units to witness smoke coming from the eves of the roof. Engine 92 assumed Smithsburg Leitersburg Command. Firefighters from Leitersburg made entry to find the entire house fully charged with smoke. Upon further investigation, crews were able to locate the fire in the basement of the house. Command quickly requested the working fire assignment.

Firefighters on the scene were faced with a large fire in the confined areas of the basement. Firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control for nearly an hour. The fire was reported knocked down by command around 21:33 hours. Crews remained committed for an additional hour conducting overhaul operations before command was able to begin releasing units. All fire ground operations were complete and Command was terminated at 23:16 hours at which time remaining units began clearing the scene as they became ready. No information on the cause of the fire, which is under investigation by the State Fire Marshals office.

READ STORY BY WILLIAM KING AT 1STRESPONDERNEWS.COM