| Call Totals: | |||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 |
| 1,812 | 1,630 | 1,594 | 1,505 | 1,521 | 1,489 | 1,227 | 1,195 |
(December 23, 2003)
While Tanker 1 was responding to a fire alarm in Leesburg, Company 1 was alerted for a second call.
At about 0745 hours Engine Company 1 and Ambulance 13 were dispatched for an auto accident on Gleedsville
Road at the Sycolin Creek Bridge. A single vehicle was reported in the creek with a person still inside.
Battalion Chief 2 (Cullers) requested this assignment be upgraded to an MVA with Entrapment based on dispatched
information.
The additional units added were Rescue Squad 13, Boat 13, Medic 13, and Battalion Chief 2. Rescue Engine 1 responded within minutes of the dispatch. Tanker 1 cleared the fire alarm and responded back to Station 20 to get Truck 1 at the Rescue Engine's request. Rescue Engine 1 arrived on scene, gave the initial size up and assumed "Gleedsville Command" with LVFC Master Firefighter Jimmy Csizmadia as incident commander. Along with Truck 1, a host of LCFR command officers responded to the call, including Loudoun 1 (Chief Griffin), Safety 601, and BC614.
Rescue Engine 1's crew (Driver Chris Sullivan, FF Jim Fazekas, and FF Jamie Harvell) donned PFDs and quickly deployed a 35' extention ladder down the side of the bridge to gain access to the drivers side of the car. The victim was quickly evaluated and given a PFD. The car was submerged in water half way up the doors of the car. Shortly after the arrival of Truck 1, the victim was freed from the car and escorted up the ladder to the bridge where waiting paramedics quickly rendered aid for mild hypothermia. The incident was concluded at about 0830 hours and all units returned to service.
(December 14, 2003)
Today at approximately 1540 hrs, with several inches of snow on the ground and an icy rain falling, a working house fire assignment was
dispatched to the 39000 block of Paynes Lane in Hamilton. Units alerted included Engine Companies 5 (Hamilton), 2 (Purcellville),
and 1 (Leesburg), Tankers 5, 1, and 4 (Round Hill), Tower 2, and Ambulance 17 (Hamilton).
Wagon 5 was first on scene, followed by Engine 5, Engine and Tower 2, and then Wagon and Tanker 1. When the units first arrived on scene, fire was observed coming from at least 3 different rooms on the main level of the home and through the roof. With questionable structural integrity and reports that the home's occupants were not home, Incident Commander Battalion Chief Colby (LCFR) ordered an exterior attack. As crews from 5 and 2 began applying water to the fire with several handlines, the crew of Wagon 1 went into the lower level through exterior doors to perform a search. Shortly thereafter, Lt. Krueger and MFF Martin located a black cat under a bed, and successfully rescued the distressed cat and carried it to the cab of Wagon 5 where it was checked by members of Hamilton Vol. Rescue Squad.
The search resumed and was concluded with no further victims found. After the bulk of the fire had been extinguished and salvage operations had begun, the residents returned home. Crews were informed that there could possibly be another cat and a dog in the home. FF's Lee Phillips and Kevin Butts of Hamilton and FF McMurrer and MFF Martin of Leesburg promptly located the second cat inside a box spring, and brought it to the relieved owners who cared for and comforted the seemingly terrified animal. Sadly, the same result would not hold true for the missing dog.
Crews from 5 and 1 remained on scene for about 4 1/2 hours overhauling, extinguishing small hidden fires, cooling hot spots, and providing lights for the Fire Marshalls to continue their investigation. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
(December 11, 2003)
At 0043 hours, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Co. Truck 1 responded to an area on Edwards Ferry Road
near Rivercreek Parkway for a water rescue with two vehicles and an unknown number of persons
trapped. Also dispatched were Rescue 13, Boat 13, Battalion 1, and the Loudoun County Sheriff's
Department. Due to poor visibility and standing water on the roadway, Truck 1 had to pick it's
way along and ford two small streams before reaching an area where the creek adjacent to the
roadway had topped its banks and was flowing rapidly in an east-southeasterly direction.
At this point, they found a man in a tree along the roadway. His auto was 40 yards downstream, upside down in about 5 feet of water. The man reported that another car was in trouble in the flood waters ahead. The crew of the truck, made up of Deputy Chief Marty Mantell, Master Firefighter John Pumphrey, Firefighter/EMTs Brian Dequittner and Anthony Jackson, and Probationary Firefighter Roy Dunseith, split into two teams.
Battalion 1 (Chief Callahan from Ashburn) established command.
Mantell and Pumphrey retrieved the driver from the tree with a ground ladder at 0105. They then proceeded to set up the aerial ladder to try to illuminate the area.
Meanwhile, FF's Dequittner and Jackson secured a lifeline to the truck and tested the waters, to see if they could venture futher down the roadway to investigate what looked like a reflector on another vehicle. PFF Dunseith and a sheriff's deputy provided the safety on the lifeline. By this time, the waters had begun to recede and Dequittner and Jackson were able to move out far enough to see that the reflector was a mailbox and not a vehicle. They could also now see the rescuers that had approached from the west (Leesburg) side. At this time, it was learned that the second vehicle had been able to proceed through unscathed. The rescued driver was unhurt.
(December 5, 2003)
Late this afternoon, a structure fire assignment was dispatched for a house fire on Garden Gate Circle
in Ashburn Farms. Units assigned were Engine Companies 6, 9, 1, Truck 1, Ambulance 6, Battalion 1. Quint 6
arrived first and reported heavy fire from the garage on the "A" side. Chief 6 (Callahan) had command.
Tanker and Truck 1 responded from Leesburg, with LCFR Lt. Charlie Brown in charge of the Tanker while LVFC FF Jasen Dodson was officer on the Truck. Upon arrival (ahead of Co. 9), Tanker 1 positioned at the hydrant to assist with water supply, while the crew advanced a second line from Quint 6 to the upstairs portion of the residence. Meanwhile, the truck crew was busy throwing ladders, securing utilities, and setting up the ladder pipe.
Quint 6's crew put a knock on the fire from the interior, but the fire extended from the garage to the exterior of sides A and D, eventually getting into the attic. With fears of a building collapse in his mind, Chief 6 ordered an evacuation of the structure. The exterior fire was knocked down and crews were able to re-enter the building and mop up the remaining hotspots. No one was seriously injured, but the family will be displaced until repairs can be completed.
(December 4, 2003)
Click here for details of this call.
(November 28th, 2003)
At approximately 0253 hours, a structure fire assignment was dispatched for a reported house fire on River Farm Lane. The
initial dispatch included Engine Companies 1 and 10, Tankers 1 and 10, Truck 1 and Ambulance 13. Wagon 10 with A/C 10
(Frye) arrived first and reported heavy fire. A/C 10 established River Farm Command and requested incoming units to stage
until he could get Wagon and Tanker 10 properly positioned. Access to the scene was very difficult due to narrow dirt
roads, overgrown trees, and muddy conditions.
Tanker 1 arrived next and immediately pulled a 300' 1 3/4" attack line. Tanker 1's crew, (Master Firefighter Mike Thacker and FF Jim Fazekas) performed a primary search, extinguished the bulk of the fire, and began overhaul within about 5 minutes of their arrival. Engine 10 and Engine 1 arrived next. Engine 10 was given the assignment of finding a water source, as this was a non-hydranted area. Engine 1's crew was split, with the officer, Lt. Buchanan, being assigned water supply. Lt. Krueger and FF McMurrer assisted Tanker 1's crew with overhaul, while the Engine shuttled water from Station 10 back to the scene.
Thanks to the aggressive attack, the fire was extinguished quickly and damage to the structure was limited. One firefighter from Co. 10 sustained an ankle injury and was transported to Loudoun Hospital at Cornwall. Engine 1 cleared the scene at around 0430. Due to the muddy conditions, Wagon 10, Tanker 10 and Tanker 1 all required assistance from a tow truck (thanks Bodyworks!!) to get clear of the scene. All units were back in service by 0800.
(November 5th, 2003)
The beginning of the end of our "Indian Summer" rolled into town at around 1500 hours on Wednesday, November 5th.
A strong cold front moving in from the Northern Plains collided with the warm, moist air that had given us unseasonably
warm temperatures for the last week. The result was a very powerful storm that ripped across Leesburg, spawned two small
tornados, and did a tremendous amount of damage to homes and property.
Calls began rolling in as fast as the storm blew through. In a blinding rain, our career staff, consisting of Lt. Charlie Brown, FF/EMT Brent Harne, and FF/EMT Tracy Lane answered the first calls, mainly associated with downed trees power lines. Soon, volunteer crews arrived at our two stations to help out. At the height of the storm, Tanker 1, Truck 1, Reserve Engine 1, and Brush 1 were all staffed and on the road answering calls. From the beginning of the storm till 1000 hours the following morning, Company 1 answered 45 calls for service. Just another day in a most unusual year for your local fire company!
Here's what the National Weather Service had to say about the storm:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
420 PM EST THU NOV 6 2003
...TORNADO DAMAGE FOUND IN LOUDOUN COUNTY...
National Weather Service and Loudoun County Emergency Management surveyed damage from yesterday afternoon's severe thunderstorm. Two weak tornado tracks were found crossing the nothern portion of the town of Leesburg. About 200 homes had damage to siding...flashing and roofs. A few cars and some barn roofs were damaged. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. Total damages are roughly estimated at $500,000.
The storm moved east through the county producing the first known damage on the south side of Purcellville around 2:50 pm. This was determined to be straight-line wind damage. Winds were estimated at about 60 mph. The first tornado path began near Dry Mill Road west of Leesburg. The tornado moved east through Graydon Manor into the downtown section of Leesburg. It then moved slightly northeast, passing the old hospital building, crossing King Street...Robinson Park area...across the Route 15 by-pass and Potomac Crossing near the Balls Bluff Elementary School. The path was 5 miles long and about 50 to 75 yards wide.
A second separate path was found about a quarter of a mile north of the first path. Damage begins near Route 7 west of Leesburg. Many homes were damaged in the area around Fairview Avenue and Lake View Way to the west of Ida Lee Park. This path cross the fields at the park and impacts the Exeter community of Leesburg with many homes impacted along Stoneledge, the north end of Catoctin Circle and Longfellow Drive. This path also contines east-northeast into Potomac Crossing and into Balls Bluff Regional Park. This path is estimated to be about 3.5 miles long and 50 to 75 yards across.
The tornadoes moved through Leesburg between 3:00 pm and 3:08 pm. Both tornadoes are classified as F0 on the Fujita Damage Scale, with winds estimated around 70 mph. Wet soil conditions helped to uproot trees. Most of the homes damaged were new construction homes where siding and flashing was easily peeled off. A few homes saw more serious damage, but construction practices were also at issue.
A survey is still under way in Montgomery County. Straight-line and tornado damage has been found there as well. The storm in Montgomery County is the same storm that struck Leesburg, Virginia.
Barbara Watson
Warning Coordination Meterologist
NWS Baltimore-Washington forecast office
Sterling, Virginia
(October 26th, 2003)
Gaining an hour of sleep at the end of daylight savings time proved to be very helpful for Duty Crew 6. Their early morning wakeup call
came at 0522 hours, when Engine Companies 1, 6, and 10, Truck 1, Ambulance 13 and Battalion 2 were dispatched for an apartment fire at
28 Fort Evans Road, N.E. Tanker 1 arrived on scene first and dropped a supply line at the hydrant in front of building 12, then proceeded to the fire building. Tanker 1's crew, led by Master Firefighter John Earley, marked on the scene with nothing showing, Side A. Lt. Ian Buchanan in Command 1 arrived just after Tanker 1 and established "Fort Evans Command" on side A.
Just after giving instructions to incoming units, Command received the first report from the interior which indicated active fire in the attic, "B" quadrant of the building. MFF Earley assumed "Division 2 Operations" and requested that Truck 1 bring in an a-frame ladder to gain access to the attic. As the truck's crew went inside, the aerial was raised and positioned to effect ventilation if it became necessary. As Tanker 1's driver, MFF Nick Martin, attempted to charge the attack line, his vehicle experienced an electrical failure that prevented the truck from engaging pump gear. Calmly, he notified Rescue Engine 1, which was now on the plug, of his situation and requested that they pump through Tanker 1 to provide sufficient pressure for the attack line. FF Jeff Kraatz on the rescue engine quickly provided the water pressure necesary to ensure the safety of the interior crews. MFF Martin was able to overcome the malfunction and engaged the pump within 2 or 3 minutes.
Battalion 2 (Paul Holsinger), Quint 6 and Wagon 10 were now on the scene. Command instructed Qunit 6 to report to operations and perform a search of the fire building. This was quickly accomplished with no one found. The next report from operations indicated that at least two trusses above apartment 202 had been burned through. The fire, which had been contained to 2 or 3 trusses and insulation lying on the ceiling drywall between them, was quickly extinguished.
Tanker 1's crew was relieved by Wagon 10, who assisted in salvage and overhaul while the tanker's crew went to rehab. Canteen 1 provided refreshments for crews on the scene. Wagon 5 filled Station 20, and ran a call for an auto accident while in Leesburg. 4 families were displaced as a result of the fire, which caused an estimated $30,000 in damages. The Red Cross and Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management worked together to provide shelter for those displaced.
Officers from the Leesburg Police Department were extremely helpful on this call. They evacuated an apartment building on the B-side exposure and provided traffic control around the scene to ensure the safety of all involved.
All units were clear of the scene by 0815.
(September 23rd, 2003)
The big news this week was supposed to have been Isabel. As it turns out, a simple cold front far eclipsed the
weakened hurricane. On Monday, September 22nd, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Loudoun County,
in effect saying that any heavy rain received could cause flooding due to the saturated soil conditions. Light rain
began falling around 1900 hrs that night, but as citizens and public safety crews retired for the evening, they had no idea how
much things would change in just a matter of hours.
Michele Margraf of the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia provided the following description of the storm:
"A strong cold front moved through the region from west to east during the early morning hours of September 23rd. A large area of rain formed ahead and along the front due to the strong southerly winds that blew in a tremendous amount of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the system the evening before."
"What helped to drop the heaviest rainfall amounts in our area was a strong jet stream that passed over the area just as the front was coming through. The jet stream causes air below to rise quickly and form thick clouds which in this case contained tremendous amount of rain because the atmosphere was so full of water. Unfortunately, when the strong cold front came through it hit this very moist air and squeezed it out in a very short period of time."
"Our office issued a flood watch on the afternoon of the 22nd when we saw the ingredients coming together for the coming night. Here's a list of the totals we have from the Leesburg area from the storm:"
LEESBURG 6.50
N LEESBURG 5.98
S LEESBURG 5.96
With rain falling at rates exceeding 3 inches per hour, stormwater managment systems were quickly overwhelmed. At around 0200 hrs, the calls began coming into the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center (ECC). Leesburg seemed to be the main target of the storm's fury. First, a flooded basement, then a fire alarm, then another flooded basement. Engine 1 responded to the first flooded basement at the Manor apartments, where the building had to be partially evacuated. At least one resident needed special care and could not self-evacuate, so an ambulance was called and arrangments were made to establish an evacuation center at Fire Station 1. Loudoun County's Office of Emergency Managment (OEM) was notified, and they began the coordination necessary to get the Red Cross on-scene to handle the temporary shelter.
The fire alarm and the second flooded basement were handled by Company 1 members who began responding to our stations as soon as the second call was dispatched. Actually getting to the stations proved to be a difficult task, as flood waters already covered several roads in the southwest quadrant of the town. Utility 1 and Deputy Chief 1 responded to the fire alarm, which was quickly ruled a system malfunction, then Utility 1 responded to the second flooded basement on Country Club Drive.
Click here to continue and to see pictures from the flood
(September 18th and 19th, 2003)
While hurricane Isabel behaved much like predicted by weather forecasters, the Leesburg area was fortunate
in that the torrential rainfall predicted never materialized. As a result, flooding in the area was minimal,
as was the amount of storm damage. The biggest problems seemed to be power outages and trees that could not
withstand the wind gusts that accompanied the hurricane as it made it way through the area.
Members of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company were ready for anything, with 7 pieces of apparatus staffed on the night of September 18th. From 1400 hours on Thursday until 1400 hours on Saturday, Company 1 was dispatched on 31 calls. The highest volume of calls occurred between 2230 Thursday to 0030 Friday, when 9 calls were received.
Thanks to all the volunteers who ran extra duty hours to ensure the safety of Leesburg's citizens, and thanks to our chief and career staff who provided extra daytime staffing and performed much of the planning and preparation in the days before the storm. The teamwork between the two groups made sure that if the storm had struck with more ferocity, we'd have been ready to deal with any situation.
(September 14th, 2003)
At approximately 0204 this morning, an alarm was struck for a bicycle accident on the Leesburg Bypass
in the area of Edwards Ferry Road. Initial dispatch was for Ambulance 13, ALS-3, and Engine Company 1.
ALS-3 arrived on the scene first and immediately notified ECC that they had a confirmed fatality. Engine
1 and Command 1 arrived and provided lights for the Leesburg Police Department, who are still investigating
this incident as a hit-and-run. Once Squad 13 arrived, Company 1 units cleared and returned in service.
At about 1620 the same day, Loudoun ECC dispatched Ambulance 13 and Engine Co. 1 for an auto accident at the intersection of Woodburn Road and Harmony Church Road. As units began responding, ECC notified Command 1 that they were upgrading the incident based on additional callers, who were advising that the driver was trapped and the vehicle was on fire. Units responding on the upgraded call were Rescue Engine 1, Command 1, Ambulance 13-2, ALS 3, and Rescue Squad 13. Command 1 arrived first with Lt. Ian Buchanan. Initial size-up revealed a pickup truck that had struck a concrete bridge abutment head on. The engine compartment and passenger compartment were heavily involved with fire. Citizens on the scene advised that the driver had exited the vehicle and was now down in the creek, where other bystanders had gone to assist him.
Lt. Buchanan established "Harmony Church Command" and immediately requested the dispatch of an additional engine from Co. 5. He then proceeded towards the vehicle to determine the location of the patient. The bystanders who had gone into the creek to assist advised that the patient was about 50 feet away from the vehicle. ALS-3 arrived on the scene next and proceeded past the burning vehicle to gain access to the victim. Once with the patient, they asked for a helicopter, which Command immediately requested from dispatch. Rescue Engine 1 arrived on the scene and, with an aggressive attack, extinguished the fire in about 5 minutes.
Command requested that Wagon 5 establish a landing zone for the MedStar helicopter. The LZ was set up in a field across the road from the accident site. MedStar arrived at approximately 1653 hrs. The patient was transferred to the helicopter and flown to Washington Hospital Center. Sadly, the victim succumbed to his injuries. ALS-3 and Amb. 13-2 cleared the scene to restock their units.
After the departure of the helicopter, crews on the scene concentrated on the environmental cleanup necessitated by leaking fluids from the truck. Booms and pads were deployed in the creek, and absorbent was used on the road surface. The Fire Marshall on the scene advised that an environmental cleanup contractor would collect these items on 9/16/03.
After transferring their water to Rescue Engine 1, Wagon 5 was released. Rescue Squad 13 cleared the scene about
the same time. Rescue Engine 1 and Command 1 remained on the scene until the vehicle had been removed by the towing
contractor. All Company 1 units were in service by 1922 hours.
| Click on an image enlarge it. Photos courtesy of FF Justin Holmberg. | ||||
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1. Rescue Engine 1 idles after pumping an 1 3/4" line to extinguish vehicle fire. |
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2. Incident Commander and FF J. C. Blaylock survey the scene. | |
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3. The truck was firmly attached to the bridge abutment. |
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4. Interior shows considerable firewall deformation; note the bent frame rail underneath. | |
(August 28th, 2003)
At 1154 hours, a box alarm was struck for a townhouse fire in the Lansdowne on the Potomac subdivision.
Initially dispatched were Engine Companies 6, 1, 18, Truck 1, Brush 22, Ambulance 6 and Battalion 1. The
original caller could only advise the street name, not the house number, due to the stage of construction
of the involved house. Wagon 6 arrived at 1202 and advised they had heavy smoke from the 2nd and
third floors on sides A and C from an interior unit townhouse. They further advised they'd be making an
attack with 3.
Battalion 1 established Leesmill Command at 1205. At 1209, Command advised that the hydrant at the scene was not functional and the next arriving engine would need to lay a second supply line. Eventually, crews were positioned on both side A and C. Deck guns and ladder pipes were the order of the day as the structure was badly damaged and could not support an interior attack. At 1256, the situation was declared stable and overhaul commenced. The last unit cleared at 1550.
Thanks to LVFC's Jimmy Csizmadia for the pictures!
(August 4th, 2003)
Duty Crew 5 spent the evening running from one side of Leesburg to the other, first with an
inside gas leak, then with a fire alarm. At about 2110 hours, Engine Companies 1, 6, and 10, Truck 1,
and Ambulance 13 were dispatched to the 800 block of Kendra Terrace, N.E. for an inside gas leak. Tanker
1, Truck 1, Wagon 1, Rescue Engine 1, Chief 1, Wagon 6, Wagon 10 and 2 ambulances from Co. 13 responded.
Tanker 1 dropped a line and proceeded just past the dispatched address, leaving room for Truck 1 which
arrived seconds later. Chief 1 marked on the scene and established "Kendra Command". Wagon 1 came into
the scene to take the hydrant while all other units staged on Potomac Station Drive. The source of the
leak was quickly determined to be the gas meter to the rear of the house. The leak was secured at
the meter and command held 1 and 1 to await the gas company.
Less than an hour later, at about 2157 hours, Company 1 was dispatched for a fire alarm in the 42000 block of Victory Lane. Tanker 1, Wagon 1, Truck 1, Chief 1 and Tanker 10 responded. Chief 1 held the first engine to help reset the alarm while all other units were returned to service.
(July 28th, 2003)
The last call of the evening for Duty Crew 7 proved to be an interesting one. At approximately
2310 hours, Engine Companies 1 and 6, Truck 1 and Ambulance 13 were dispatched for an auto accident,
vehicle into a structure in the 400 block of Evans Ridge Terrace, N.E. Rescue Engine 1, Truck 1,
Rescue Engine 6, and Ambulance 13-2 responded. Rescue Engine 1's officer, Deputy Chief Marty Mantell
established "Evans Ridge Command" upon arrival. Initial investigation revealed a vehicle that had
driven over the curb into a ground floor apartment, pushing
the exterior wall approximately 18 inches into the structure. The vehicle then backed up and
came to rest in the parking lot.
The family inside the ground floor apartment got quite a scare, but no one was injured. The driver of the vehicle was checked out and refused treatment. Command held Rescue Engine 1 and Truck 1, Ambulance 13-2. Three affected apartments were evacuated and a total of 13 people were displaced. Units remained on the scene until 0049 supporting the evacuation and investigation. It is unknown when the affected families will be able to return to their homes.
(July 23rd into July 24th, 2003)
Duty Crew 2 had a very busy evening, including two calls that had the potential to turn into
significant fires. First, at about 2325 on the 23rd, a working fire assignment was dispatched
to a townhouse on Shenandoah Street, S.E. The initial dispatch included Engine Companies 1, 6, 5 and 10, Truck 1,
Ambulance 13. Captain Paul Earley responded in Command 1 and established "Shenandoah Command". After the initial
investigation, units from Co 1 and 13 were held, everything else was returned. The fire involved food on the
stove with minimal extension to the cabinets above. Tanker 1, Wagon 1, and Truck 1 remained
on the scene for about 30 minutes, removing smoke and ensuring that no further extension had occurred.
Later, at about 0115 on July 24th, another fire was dispatched, this time for a single family home on Vermillion Dr., N.E. Initial dispatch was for Engine Companies 1 and 6, Truck 1, Ambulance 13. After a Leesburg Police officer gave a report of a "house fully involved with windows breaking", Engine Company 10 was dispatched for the RIT. When Tanker 1 arrived on the scene, Captain Earley gave his size up with nothing showing. Dispatch was a little confused, considering the differences in situations reported. They asked if Leesburg PD was on the scene to ensure there wasn't a second house fire in the same neighborhood. It turned out there was only 1 call.
Tanker 1 initiated a primary search, while Wagon 6 established a water supply at the hydrant where Tanker 1 had dropped a line. Truck 1, Engine 1, and Utility 1 arrived and began ventilation. Wagon 10 was diverted to Station 1 for the fill. The fire had involved a door at the front of the residence and there was no extension. FM 609 is handling the investigation.
(July 22nd, 2003)
Early this morning, Truck 1 was dispatched as part of a 2nd alarm assignment to a house fire in
downtown Middleburg. Arriving on the scene after the 18 mile journey, the truck crew was given the assignment
of checking for hotspots on the second floor. Lt. Obaugh and FF Shadwick performed extensive overhaul on the
second floor while the remainder of the crew worked on the first floor and the exterior. While the structure
was gutted by the fire, the nearby exposures were well protected and suffered little damage. The house had been
undergoing renovation prior to the fire.
(June 30th, 2003)
At 0132 this morning, Company 1 was dispatched for a car fire on Andromeda Terrace. Duty
crew 6 was on duty that night and arrived on the scene at 0138 with a crew of 5 in Tanker 1. Arriving
on the scene, they found two vehicles well involved. The fires were extinguished by 0146 and the
investigation was turned over to the Loudoun County Fire Marshall's office.
(June 19th, 2003)
At 1653 hours, a box alarm was sounded for a barn fire at 21036 Gulick Mill Rd. The initial dispatch was for Engine Companies 1, 6, and 5, Truck 1
Tankers 1 and 5, Ambulance 13, Battalion 2. Responding to the call were Rescue Engine 1, Tanker 1, Truck 1, Brush 1, Wagon 6, Wagon 5, Engine 5,
Ambulance 13-3, LCFR Battalion Chief Cullers, FM 609, Safety 601. As units responded, it was clear this would be a working incident as a column
of dark smoke was visible from several miles away.
First on the scene was BC Cullers, who had command of the incident. W-6 was the first engine on the scene, followed closely by Tanker 1. Initial actions focused on protecting exposures while Co. 5 units established a water supply from a pond on the farm. Water was pumped from the pond to Rescue Engine 1, then to Tanker 1, and finally to Wagon 6. A quick knock saved substantial portions of the barn, and no horses were injured. Canteen 1 provided refreshments on the scene. Wagon 10 filled for Co. 1 at Station 20.
Initial reports suggest the fire was caused by a light ballast inside the barn.
(June 18th, 2003)
At 1206 hours, Loudoun County Rescue Squad Company 13 was dispatched for a pedestrian struck in the 600 block of Marshall Dr, NE. Co. 13 (LCFR
Paramedic Lt. Scott and LCFR FF Silva) arrived on the scene to find Leesburg Police Department Officer Tidmore rendering aid to a 32 year old
female who had been run over by her own minivan. Apparently the victim had backed into a mail box and when she opened the door to see what she had
hit she inadvertently hit the accelerator. The victim was ejected from the vehicle and subsequently was run over by it. LVFC Tanker 1, under the
command of LCFR Captain Dale Hetherington, dropped one FF at the scene to assist in patient care and then proceeded to set up the helicopter landing
zone at Leesburg Elementary School. The patient was flown to Fairfax Hospital by helicopter MedStar2. Her condition is unknown at this time.
(June 11th and 12th, 2003)
Powerful thunderstorms ripped across the Leesburg area, dumping more than 1 1/2 inches of rain on
Wednesday, followed by just over 1/2 an inch on Thursday. Between downed trees, automobile accidents,
fire alarms, and flooded basements, members of the fire company were kept busy. Fortunately, no
significant injuries were sustained and damage was minimal.
(April 28, 2003)
A crash involving an SUV in the westbound lanes of the Route 7 bypass claimed the life of a 42 year old woman this evening at approximately 8:35 p.m. Units from Company 1 that responded were Engine 1, Rescue Engine 1, and Command 1 with Assistant Chief Wayne Whetsell. A/C 1 had incident command while Rescue Engine 1's crew, led by Lt. Jasen Dodson, and Rescue Squad 13's crew handled the extrication. Captain Pete Comanduras and his crew on Engine 1 set up the helicopter landing zone for the Medstar helicopter. While the helicopter did arrive on scene, the patient was eventually transported by ground to Loudoun Hospital Center - Lansdowne.
(April 25, 2003)
At 5:32 p.m. this evening, a structure fire assignment was dispatched to Raspberry Falls for a report of house on fire. Units dispatched on the alarm were Engine, Truck, and Tanker Company 1, Engine and Tanker Company 10, Engine Company 6, Engine 5, Medic 13, and Battalion 2.
Company 1 units that responded were Tanker 1, Engine 1, Rescue Engine 1, Truck 1, and Chief 1. Shortly after Wagon 10 marked on the scene with fire showing from all four sides, Chief 1 (Tom Goss) arrived and established "Swiftwater Command". Due to the level of fire involvement, the fact that it was a house under construction, and the type of water supply (rural), it was quickly determined that this would be a defensive attack.
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| Photos by Charles Speacht |
A water dump site was established near the scene, while a 10,000 gallon water tank near the golf clubhouse was to be the fill site. This water supply was quickly exhausted and other fill sites were established. Tanker 12, which was enroute to fill station 10, was added to the call to provide more water.
LCFR Battalion Chief Cullers arrived on the scene and assisted Chief Goss with command. Deputy Chief 1 (Marty Mantell) had operations while Asst. Chief 1 (Wayne Whetsell) handled safety. Asst. Chief 10 was the water supply officer.
The structure was a total loss and will have to be rebuilt. Units remained on the scene until after 10:00 p.m. dousing hot spots and assisting the Fire Marshall with the investigation.
Engine 2 provided a station fill at Leesburg fire station 20, while Wagon 1 filled station 1.