10 minute read
Looking Back
Hanover 2021
Multiple crews responded to a structure fire in August 2021, shortly after1800 in the Mechanicsville area. - Photo courtesy of Hanover County FR
Norfolk - 2021
B shift crews from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were called back to Philpotts Road in September2022, just after2300, fora structure just fire. On arrival they found smoke and flames visible and began an immediate exteriorattack. There were no injuries, and no occupants were displaced from this fire. - Photo courtesy of Norfolk FR
Louisa County Structure Fire
Louisa County crews along with area mutual-aid operated at the scene of a structure fire on Carrs Bridge Road. - Photo courtesy of Louisa County FR
4 FFs Injured in Tappahannock Fire
On July 15, 2022, the Tappahannock Fire Department responded to the 200 block of Prince Street fora structure fire. Callers reported smoke inside a furniture store, which was open to the public at the time. Fire crews arrived to find smoke showing from multiple buildings on the block and realized they were dealing with a majorblaze. Mutual aid was requested and seven departments from all local jurisdictions and across the state. Crews soon switched to defensive mode, as the fire was quickly spreading, engulfing an entire city block. Crews pulled waterfrom multiple hydrants and additional waterfrom the river. Several 500-gallon tanks of propane exploded. Fourfirefighters were transported to VCU Medical Centerdue to heat exhaustion. - Fire News photo by CFN Media
Bathroom Fan Starts House Fire
Chesterfield Fire and EMS responded to Pony Cart Drive around 2200 on July 14, 2022, fora structure fire. The residents were alerted of a fire by smoke detectors and saw smoke coming from the ceiling. Truck 209 arrived to find heavy fire showing from a two-story, wood frame, single-family dwelling. Crews began an aggressive attack on the fire from the interior. Crews also worked on thoroughly searching the house. Crews were able to get a fast knockdown on the fire, and the incident was marked under control. The Chesterfield Fire and EMS Fire Marshall’s Office believes the fire started from a bathroom fan. - Fire News photo by CFN Media
3-Alarm Commercial Fire
On July 22, 2022, at 0526, Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to the Moore Avenue Industrial Area, fora three-alarm warehouse fire. Emergency Communications dispatched the incident at 0526. Battalion 1 arrived to find heavy fire and smoke showing from the roof of the warehouse with warehouses on both sides of the fire warehouse involved and a 500-gallon propane tank exposed. Battalion 1 requested a second alarm due to the size of the building and the amount of fire. While crews attacked the fire from the interiorof the exposure warehouses, laddercrews worked the fire from above. Due to the heat and humidity, and the long work cycles, crew rotation and rehabilitation was being performed. Three-alarms were finally requested. - Photo courtesy of Suffolk FR
Peanut TrailerFire
On June 13, 2022, the Woodstock Fire Department responded to a trailerfire. First arriving units found a road trailercontaining processed peanuts with fire showing. Units from Woodstock, Edinburg, Toms Brook and Shenandoah County spent several hours battling the deep-seated blaze. Atankershuttle was utilized and extra crews required due to high ambient heat conditions. - Submitted by Zachary Hottel
Quick Stop on Holman Mill Rd.
Recently, Randolph VolunteerFire Department received a call fora house fire on Holman Mill Road. Everyone was out of the house and the ownerwas using a garden hose outside trying to stop the fire. Cumberland and Farmville were called to assist. The fire was quickly extinguished.
Truck Fire on I-66
Fairfax County units worked a truck fire on Interstate-66 westbound just priorto Route 28. No injuries were reported. - Photo courtesy of Fairfax County FR
Richmond Brush Fire Underthe Bridge
Recently, Richmond Fire Department responded to the 500 block of Tredegar Street fora reported brush fire. Engine 6’s crew quickly arrived on scene and walked across the foot bridge to where the call was from. Engine 6 soon got on location and advised to all units there was a brush fire underneath the PotterField Bridge. Engine 6’s officeradvised Battalion Chief 3 he believed the only safe way to put the fire out would be to put boats in the waterand requested Boats 1 and 2 to the scene. Fire crews then lowered tools from the bridge down to the waterrescue crews to extinguish the fire. Fire crews were on scene forabout two and a half hours.
- Fire News photo by CFN Media
Galax Brush Fire
Galax Fire Department was toned out fora brush fire at the intersection of Blackstone and Iron Ridge Roads. Arriving units found a rapidly expanding fire. Brush 14 pulled a line and held the fire while laterarriving units cut a containment line around the burn. All units cleared in 30 minutes. - Photo courtesy of Galax FD
Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to a residential structure fire on June 30, 2022, in the 100 block of Castle Court. Battalion Chief Steven Johnson advised that heavy fire was observed from the rearand roof of the single-story residence. Adefensive operation occurred to protect nearby dwellings. Two people were at home at the time of the fire and were able to get out safely. One occupant was evaluated and released by paramedics. The occupants were displaced from the home and were working with the American Red Cross. Responding units included B1, B2, B3, E1, E3, E5, E6, E7, E9, FM7, L3, M10, M3, M6, R1, REHAB6, SF1. - Photo courtesy of Suffolk FR
15 Displaced by Portsmouth Blaze
At approximately 0137 on April 7, 2022, Portsmouth Emergency Communications Centerreceived multiple 911 calls reporting an apartment fire on the 100 block of Dahlgren Avenue in the Cradock section of the city. Portsmouth Fire Rescue, Chesapeake Fire, and Navy Region Fire were dispatched to the fire. Firefighters arrived to a two-story, eight-unit multi-family structure with heavy fire and smoke emitting from the second floor. Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire. The large volume of fire heavily damaged the structure and burned through the roof. The fire displaced 13 adults and two children, and Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced occupants. Command deemed the fire undercontrol just around 0330. The cause of the fire was investigated by the Portsmouth Fire Marshal’s Office and ruled accidental in nature. - Photo courtesy of Portsmouth FR
Fire on the Spirit of Norfolk
Norfolk Fire Rescue, along with multiple agencies and jurisdictions worked togetherto battle a fire on the Spirit of Norfolk. Afterthe truly amazing and heroic efforts of the crew aboard the Spirit to safely evacuate all passengers on the Victory Rover, the ship was then moved to Pier4 at Naval Station-Norfolk. Throughout the day, a unified command took several different approaches to battling the blaze. However, because watervessels present so many additional accessibility challenges, the fight continued through the night. Naval Station-Norfolk, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, United States Coast Guard, Virginia Port, Hampton Fire/Rescue, Newport News Fire Department, Portsmouth Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, and the Chesapeake Fire Department contributed to the efforts. Though the devastation is immense forthe iconic Spirit of Norfolk cruise ship, there is still much to be thankful forin this incident. All 108 passengers and staff were quickly and safely evacuated, and there were no injuries sustained to any crew members working the incident.
- Photos courtesy of Norfolk FR
Don’t Know Why …
Units from Albemarle County Fire Rescue and Albemarle County Police Department responded to a submerged vehicle nearGreenbrierand Hillsdale Drives. There were no reported injuries. The cause of the vehicle being in the waterwas unknown.
- Photo courtesy of Albemarle County FR
Henrico 2-CarMVA with Extrication
Henrico Fire units responded to Oakleys Lane and Williamsburg Road foran MVAwith entrapment. Truck 306 quickly arrived on scene to find a two-vehicle accident, one of the vehicles being a Henrico Police vehicle. One green patient was found trapped tapped in theirvehicle. Fire crews immediately began a simple extrication process and the patient was soon removed from theirvehicle. An additional medic was requested to the scene fortwo green patients who were transported to a local hospital in unknown condition. - Fire News photo by CFN Media
Apparatus Hit at MVAon I-85
On May 15, 2022, Company 7 and SSRS were dispatched to a two-vehicle MVAon southbound Interstate-85 at the 1 milemarker. Chief 7 arrived and determined the crash was actually on the northbound side. While crews were working, a sedan struck the Command Truck first and proceeded towards first responders before crashing into the back of Engine 72. No first responders were struck, injured norkilled as a result of the secondary crash. Crews determined there were seven patients requiring medical attention and transport. The driverof the sedan that struck the fire apparatus was entrapped and extrication began immediately. The injured were transported via ground transport by Southside Rescue, Warren County EMS, and Boydton Life Station to VCU-CMH in South Hill Virginia. - Submitted by Zach Currin
Fast Extrication on I-85 MVA
Recently, Company 7 was dispatched into Brunswick County fora reported MVAon Interstate 85 at the 23 milemarkersouthbound. While still en route, the incident was upgraded to an entrapment and Southside Rescue Squad was added to the assignment forALS. Chief 7 arrived to a single vehicle on its side, very unstable, with one occupant trapped. Engine 72 (with five) arrived and began setting up Paratech stabilization equipment and Holmatro rescue tools and crews began cutting the many pillars to be able to peel back the roof to gain access to the patient, who was successfully extricated in approximately 14 minutes. On scene agencies included Alberta Fire and EMS, South Hill VFD, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Southside Rescue Squad, and Virginia State Police. Company 7 units on scene included Chief 7, Engine 72, Truck 7 and Unit 79. - Submitted by Zach Currin
Marine Firefighting School Draws a Crowd
The Port of Virginia and the Regional Maritime Incident Response Team Sponsored the 30th Annual Hampton Roads Marine Firefighting School. The week-long class had 117 students from local fire departments from around the country plus several international students. - Photos courtesy of Suffolk FR
