At 22:59 hours on July 31, Reserve Engine 23, Ambulance 23-2, Chief 6 and Units from Arcola Fire and Rescue responded to Old Ryan Road between Crosen Lane and Loudoun County Parkway for a reported Auto Accident with entrapment. RE-23 arrived on scene to find a Nissan Hatchback on it passenger side wrapped around a tree. The driver of the vehicle was wearing his seatbelt and the Air Bag had deployed preventing serious injury. However the car was wrapped around the tree and had collapsed the steering column and dash down onto his legs. He was hanging sideways 4 feet off the ground pinned in the car. The vehicle was stabilized to prevent it from rolling and causing further injury to the driver and Rescuers. Using the Jaws of Life, the roof of the car was cut and rolled down to give the Medic access to the patient and then the drivers door and car frame on the drivers side were cut. This allowed hydraulic rams to be put in place to push the dash away from the frame and release the drivers legs. Total time from the arrival of the first unit to the patient being free of the car was 45 minutes.

At approximately 2330 hrs on the 19th units were alerted to Lanier Island way for the reported house fire. Initial report stated fire from the rear of the structure with possibly a person trapped on the second floor. Another report said fire on all floors and through the roof with one individual looking out a second floor window. Wagon 1 and Engine 6 marked on scene to find a two-story duplex style home with fire through the roof and one resident attempting to reenter the structure. Engine 1 quickly requested a second alarm. As the crews from 1 and 6 went to work pulling handlines the driver from 6 threw a total of 7 ground ladders to all sides of the structure and truck 1 set up for a defensive knock down. As the bulk of the fire was knocked in the attic space crews were allowed to go back in and hit some hot spots and complete overhaul. All together first arriving crews from 1 and 6 made a very safe yet aggressive stop on the fire containing it to the residence of origin not allowing it to spread to the adjoining home. Thanks to all crew on scene for making this a successful evening. On a side note at one point in the incident Engine 6 was flowing 1900gpm from one hydrant while maintaining 10psi residual pressure. Also A brand new redhat learned he is gonna have to pick up the speed a little bit to keep up with some of the old guys!!

On Saturday June 28th the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company is holding a dance to help support Lt. John Earley. Please help show your support and come out. All proceeds will be donated to the John Earley Relief Fund.

Date: Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Time: 9:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m.
Ticket Price: 20.00 single / 35.00 couple
Beverages: BYOB
Location: The Flame Room, 215 Loudoun Street, S.W., Leesburg, VA (behind Station 1)
How to Purchase Tickets: Call Jimmy Csizmadia at (703) 930-8521, or see any member of Company 1

On Monday, June 2nd, the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was proud to present over $1,000 to Loudoun County Battalion Chief Pat Brandenburg and Loudoun County Lt. Matt Murphy (President of the Loudoun County firefighters union - IAFF) for the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation in the names of the firefighters injured at the Meadowood Court fire on May 25th.

Members of the community had been contacting AVFRD all week asking what they could do to support the company and the injured firefighters.

Since the monthly Pancake Breakfast had already been scheduled for June 1st and had been advertised, the committee decided to donate all of the boot proceeds received at the breakfast to the Burn Foundation and advertised that fact throughout the community as best we could on such short notice. The community responded generously.

Ashburn is a combined volunteer/career fire and rescue house. The volunteer members raised this money from the community in the names of the career firefighters who run out of our house and help protect our community. The DC Firefighter Burn Foundation assists all burn victims and their families throughout the metro area. Members of this team actually met the rescue helicopters when they landed and immediately began providing assistance to the firefighters and their families. They provide rooms, meals, transportation and any other support needed. Donations received by the DC Firefighter Burn Foundation go back to the Washington Burn Center to provide services for all burn victims and their families.

In the early evening of May 7th units were alerted to Sycolin and Turner Farm ln for the auto accident with possible entrapment. Engine, Rescue Engine and Medic 6 responded and marked on scene with one vehicle over the embankment with two trapped. The Engine crew Began stabilization while the Rescue Engine crew discussed their plan of attack. Battalion 601 arrived shortly after the crews from 6 and assumed command from the Engine. Once the vehicle was stabilized the Rescue crew made quick work of the roof and door on the passenger side and both patients were extricated from the vehicle. On a side note: ALL efforts on this call were completed by a combination of Career staff and Company 6 volunteers without a hint of confusion between them all. This just proves it is possible to to have a strong combination system if everyone knows their roles and responsibilities.

Wednesday night at 23:28 Engine 23 and Ambulance 23 were dispatched to the 44000 block of Cheltenham Circle for the van fire. Units arrived on scene to find a van located in the driveway of a home with active fire and the LCSO trying to get a knock on it. While there intentions were good, without the proper PPE and their 1 lb fire extinguishers they were no match for this raging inferno. Lineman Sgt. Drew Doiron deployed the front bumper line and made quick work the fire. Due to the extensive amount of construction materials inside the van Engine 23 remained on scene for close to an hour overhauling and mopping up. Also noted, this was newly released driver Ryan Dumond's first fire at the pump panel. Ryan did an excellent job quickly getting lines charged and assisting the crew with lighting and tools. Keep up the good work.

Units: Engine 23, Ambulance 23, Photo 6

Friday May 2nd the duty crew had a hankering for some different training. Training that we normally don't complete on the premises. So it was decided by the Captain that we would have some fun fighting car fires. Having several guys on the crew who haven't seen fire in quite some time and also a brand new redhat this training was well needed. The crew rotated through a few scenarios until finally it was the Captain and Lieutenants turn to show the crew what's up. With the LT having some trouble with his gloves, the line was easily stolen by the Captain and the fire extinguished in a timely manner. All in all everyone had some fun and the redhat learned a few things he can apply to his training in fire school. All this training was made possible by the donation of a very gracious citizen who allowed us to use their old vehicle for training. Without these kinds of donations a lot of our training could not take place! Thanks

After completing some well needed training on firefighter emergency procedures, the Friday night crew headed out to dinner only to be interrupted by a call for a vehicle accident with entrapment at Belmont Ridge and Hay rd. Knowing that they were out of position from the start Engine 6 Captain Kidwell immediately added Rescue 13 to the call. Shortly after Rescue Engine 6 marked up driver only with Sergeant Madden at the wheel. AC 6 marked on scene shortly after the Medic and confirmed entrapment and assumed command. Units marked on scene seconds after and went to work. With the limited number of manpower on scene Sergeant Madden discovered just how nerve racking it can be to drive during a hectic incident and did an excellent job handling the situation by himself. The engine captain began extrication while his firefighter assisted in ems crews. Once Squad 13 arrived on scene what was left of the extrication was completed and took 26 minutes from the time of dispatch. The patient was airlifted to Fairfax hospital. Thanks to Squad 13 and also the family of AC 6 for letting him leave his daughters after school event to assist us with the command. Also noted on this call Flip flops are not approved station shoes and a certain Firefighter from Engine 6 is excellent at holding c-spine and counting respirations!

Units: Reserve Engine 6, Rescue Engine 6, Medic 6, Medic 23, Engine 23, Squad 13, AC 6, BC 601

On Saturday the 19th a few dedicated volunteers from Company 6 travelled to their third due to participate in an aquired structure burn sponsored by Arcola FIre Company 9. Also in attendance were LCFR staff from stations 9 and 19 as well as Volunteers from Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department 106. The training consisted of several live fire burns throughout the day in which teams rotated through four fireground positions, fire attack, backup line, truck company and RIT (rapid intervention team). A good time was had by all rotating through the mix and some lessons were learned by the youngsters in attendance. Many thanks go out to Arcola Chief 9 for planning the event as well as the guys and gals in rehab for keeping us well hydrated and fed for the entire day.

March 27 while medic 6 was in route to a call they noticed a large column of smoke in the area of smith switch road and Waxpool. Loudoun dispatched engine 23 for the investigation and engine 6 added on as they could see the column from fire station 6. Engine 23 arrived on scene to find a vehicle well off in a field. Due to the location of the fire the engine was unable to gain access and called for brush 6.

Units: Engine 6, Engine 23, Brush 6