At 0955 hours, the box alarm was sounded for 20th Avenue and 21st ave for the reported house on fire. While enroute, units were advised that there was a fire on the 2nd floor, and all the residents had evacuated with a corrected address of  8403 20th ave. Engine 341 arrived on the scene to find a 2 story, split foyer, with smoke showing from the 2nd floor. Due to a delay in the second due engines arrival, E341′s driver deployed the humat valve, which was charged by the crew of Medic 44. E341 made entry into the residence and advanced the 200′ 1 3/4″ attack line. A fire in a second floor bedroom with extension into the hallway was located and quickly extinguished. Within 20 minutes, command held Engine 341 and Truck 12.  Units cleared at 1130 hours

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On 6/5 while on the air E343 was alerted to the intersection of Drexel St and 23rd ave. While enroute communications advised they were receiving multiple calls and had a corected address in the 7200 block of 24th place. E343 arrived on the scene with fire showing from a 2 story single family.  E343′s crew advanced a line and quickly extinguished the fire which had extended from the exterior of the house into the attic. Command held 2 and 1 to check for extension and crews cleared shortly after.

Photo courtesy of company 14

At 1728 hours on 5/22/2013, Truck 34 along with A348 making up staffing responded as the third due truck for the reported attic on fire in company 11′s first due. Units went onscene with smoke showing from the attic and began to extinguish and ventilate the fire. Truck 34 arrived onscene and established rapid intervention for a short time. Truck 34 returned to service within an hour.

At 1727 hours on 5/20/2013, Engine 343 was alerted as the first due engine for the house on fire in the 6700 block of 22nd Ave in Lewisdale. E343 arrived onscene to find smoke showing from a one story house.  E343′s crew found two small set fires in the front of the house and quickly extinguished them.  Units remained onscene for ventilation and minor overhaul until the arrival of fire investigators.  E343 cleared a short time later.

Just before 0700 on Sunday morning, Engine 343 and the ambulance were alerted for a routine vehicle accident at the intersection of Riggs Rd and Hughes Rd. While en route, communications advised that they were now receiving reports of occupants trapped and were upgrading the assignment, bringing Battalion Chief 4 (Verlaque) and Chief 34 (Aldridge), as well as Squad 14, chief 14, 14A, and 14B.

Engine 343 arrived on scene and confirmed a vehicle into a tree with two patients trapped and unconscious. Initial patient care was started and a protection handline was stretched as Squad 14 arrived and began extrication. One patient was removed as a priority 1 trauma and the other as a cardiac arrest. All patients were transported within 15 minutes and units returned to service.

At 2020 hours on 5/16/2013, just after clearing a fire alarm in Montgomery County, Truck 34 was alerted as the first due truck for the apartment fire in the 2700 block of Webster Street in Company 55′s first due.  As Truck 34 responded, Engine 55 went onscene with smoke showing and began to extinguish a set fire found in a closet with extension into the hallway on a second floor apartment.  Truck 34 arrived onscene, performed a primary search of the second floor, threw ladders, ventilated, and opened up to check for extension.  As companies arrived, a tenant jumped from the second floor and was cared for by EMS units onscene. Companies cleared a few hours later.

At 1608 hours on 5/14/2013, Engine 343 was alerted for the apartment fire at 1836 Metzerott Rd.  Upon arrival, the crew found smoke showing from the 8th floor of a 20-story highrise building and immediately started the second alarm.  While ascending the stairs to the 8th floor, units began reporting fire showing from the 8th floor balcony which appeared to be extending to the 9th floor. As E343 stretched a line from the standpipe riser, Truck 12 arrived onscene, forced the apartment door on the 8th floor, and found a fire on the balcony with minor extension inside.  E343 and Truck 12 extinguished the small fire.  Other units, including those from the second alarm, were used to evacuate the building, conduct searches, and check for extension.

At 1255, the box alarm was dropped for 8245 New Hampshire Avenue for the reported house on fire. Truck 34 responded on the box (from Co.844) with 4 personnel, arrived at the corrected address of 8243, and reported light smoke showing. Upon forcing entry into the residence, the Truck’s crew encountered a fully involved kitchen with minor extension into the hall way.  Truck 34′s interior crew performed a primary and secondary search of the first floor and assisted E44 with ltheir line while the exterior crew threw ground ladders to sides A and B and secured the utilities. E44 and TK34 made quick work of the fire, and command held 2 & 2. Units cleared at 1445 hours.

With the Truck out of service for maintenance, the Engine Company has been especially busy, including this daytime fire in Silver Spring. First arriving units found heavy fire showing from the top floor of this multiple dwelling and immediately sounded the second alarm. With multiple rescues being made by Truck 716 and the initial lines being advanced, the first alarm companies had their hands full! Great job by the initial units as they held this difficult fire to the apartment of origin while simultaneously making numerous rescues. This makes the 4th fire for Company 34 in the past 11 days.

Just before 0800, 4th Battalion fire companies were alerted for a reported fire in the apartment on Dean Drive in Hyattsville. First arriving units reported a 2 in the front, 4 in the rear garden style apartment house with nothing evident. Engine 343, dispatched 4th due, picked up 44′s line at the entrance to the rear parking lot and stood by for an update.

While staging in the rear, Engine Co. 44′s officer noticed a small amount of smoke issuing from the top floor of the apartment building. As additional attack lines were deployed, Engine Co. 1 located a fire in the kitchen of a lower-level unit and began extinguishment. Engine 343, checking for extension above the fire, advanced a 400′ attack line over a ground ladder on Side Charlie, forced two apartment doors, and checked for extension in the pipe chase area above the seat of the fire. Units were back in service in about an hour.