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 and 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, as well as, 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.

In the afternoon hours, the Bombero Engine Company was alerted to a possible outside fire in the 1400 block of Kanawha St. As the officer dismounted the wagon to investigate, a large group of locals were pointing to the group of apartments down the street. As the wagon re-positioned, the officer made an attempt to cut behind the adjoining unit to quickly access the updated location.

Thwarted by a wrought iron fence, but undeterred, Tony “Marathon Man” Wallach started the jog up the street to rejoin the wagon crew just as communications was calling back to report that they now had multiple calls of an apartment fire with people trapped.

Despite the initial bad address, Engine 343 deployed the 400′ preconnect, forced their way into the apartment and had the small fire knocked down prior to the arrival of other companies. All searches turned up negative and all units were back in the house in less than an hour.

On March 22, Truck 34 was alerted for the apartment fire just across the PG / Montgomery County line. Arriving as the second due special service, Truck 34 positioned on side Charlie, and split crews into two teams. The interior team made entry and performed a primary search above the fire, while the exterior team deployed five portable ladders to the rear of the building and handled horizontal ventilation.

One civilian was rescued by first arriving units, and the fire escalated to a second alarm before being declared “under control”.

The Officers and Members of the Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department are proud to announce that we have once again been awarded a SAFER Grant to support volunteer recruitment and retention! The CAVFD has been awarded $103,500 that will be used to support various initiatives designed to bolster our volunteer ranks, including the continuation of our tuition reimbursement program! We look forward the CAVFD continuing to increase its number of volunteer members and provide additional services to Langley Park and its surrounding areas. Last but not least, we would like to offer congratulations to the Morningside VFD, Co. 27, who was also awarded a SAFER grant last week.

Late last night, Engine Company 28 was involved in a serious accident on the Capital Beltway. Initial reports are stating that the wagon was struck by a tractor trailer. All four members of the company were transported to area trauma centers, one of whom was in critical condition at the time of transport.

On behalf of the Officers and Members of the CAVFD, we would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to the West Lanham Hills VFD, and are wishing a fast and complete recovery to all of the affected members.

Just before midnight, Engine 343 and surrounding 4th battalion fire units were alerted for a fire in the basement of a home. Engine 343, responding with 5 personnel, arrived as the second due engine. After sleeving a plug and creatively providing a water supply to Engine Co. 44, the Bombero Engine Company advanced the 400′ preconnect through the front door of the home, down the interior steps, and into the basement to back up 44. All fire was quickly knocked, however the fire did result in one civilian fatality. Units returned to service within a couple of hours.

Another day, another first arriving daytime fire. After clearing a box in Hyattsville, Truck 34 and other units from the 4th Battalion were alerted to 6121 Riggs Rd in Chillum for the house on fire. Truck 34 arrived first and found a detached single family home with a fire in the basement. The Bomberos made their way inside, located the basement steps, and lent a hand to 44′s engine crew in the advancement of their hoseline. Once in the basement, the canman and barman from Truck 34 located the fire and completed a primary search of the basement as 44′s lineman got the knock. Fire was found in the walls on all floors of the home, requiring a precautionary Fire Task Force before the fire was extinguished. Good job to all units on the call bringing this stubborn fire under control quickly and efficiently.

Just after 1030 AM, Engine 343 and surrounding units were alerted to a possible fire in a restaurant on the PG / Montgomery County border. Engine 343, first arriving to the scene, reported a two story strip shopping center with smoke and fire coming from the roof. After advancing a line into the structure and investigating, fire was found in the ventilation system of the kitchen and quickly extinguished. DFC Guyton also took in the fire as the division 2 supervisor, running as the 4th Battalion Chief.