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WORKING SHED FIRE IN RIPLEY

On Jan 7, 2012 at 1430 hrs Co. 8 was alerted for the working shed fire at 6381 Nelson Dr. in the Ripley section of our first due. Engine 8-3, Tanker 8, Safety 8 and Chief 8A responded within minutes. First arriving Safety 8 (Burroughs) found a 20 x 15 shed with heavy fire showing. Engine 8-3 arrived seconds later and stretched a 300 ft. 1 ¾ in. attack line and began extinguishing the fire.  Chief 8A arrived and established the Ripley command and assigned Safety 8 as operations and assigned Engine 9-1 water supply @ Hunters Brooke sub-division. Engine 7-3 and Truck 1 arrived and began assisting 8-3’s crew with extinguishment and checking for extension. Tanker 8 and Tanker 7 supplied the fireground with water and Tanker 8 filled at the fill site once. Units operated on the fireground for approx 2 hours before returning to service. 

FIRST RUN FOR FIREBOAT 8

15 December 2011:  At 1807 hours, Fireboat 8 was alerted to the Potomac River near the boat ramps at the Indian Head Naval Facility for a report of an overturned boat with people in the water.  MSU 8 and Fireboat 8 responded.  Upon arrival, one person was located in the water by Fireboat 7 (Potomac Heights).  Fireboat 8 assisted in the search for the missing boater.  The search lasted several hours, and was later terminated by command.  Our condolences go out to the family of the lost boater.

CHANGE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES!

4 November 2011:  This Sunday marks the end of daylight savings time.  Please remember when you change your clocks, you simultaneously change your smoke detector batteries.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), almost two-thirds of home fire deaths in the United States in 2005-2009 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, or no working smoke alarms.  Research shows that when smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing or dead.  Almost one-quarter of the smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries.  The average 9-volt battery can be purchased at any local store for a couple dollars.  This is a small price to pay for your family’s safety.

FUND RAISER FOR DELANEY MATTHEWS 

We invite you to come out and support our fund raiser that will benefit Life Member Delaney Matthews on Saturday, October 22 from 7PM until midnight at our firehouse. Entertainment will be provided by the bands "The Wise Guys" and "Vendetta" along with "Just Jeff the DJ". There will be a $15.00 charge per person collected at the door. In addition, we will have food for sale, door prizes, a 50/50 raffle and a Corn Hole Tournament ( 250.00 dollars winner takes all). In early summer, Delaney was diagnosed with Lymphoma after a long stay in the hospital. Recently, he was told by his insurance company that they would not cover the surgery that he needs to remove the tumor. We are holding this event to assist him in getting the treatment that he very much needs to continue with his life. Delaney joined our department in 1979 at the age of 16. He was awarded his Life Membership in 2000 and was named the Member of the Year for 2008. He is currently serving as our Chief Engineer, a position he has held for the last six years. Delaney has dedicated a large part of his life to helping others, now its our time to help him.  

If you cant make it to the benefit but would like to donate you can use one of the following options:

Send checks to: 

Firefighters for Delaney

11385 Berry Road

Waldorf, MD 20603

 or you can use Paypal, the Email to donate to is: firefightersfordelaney@gmail.com or the code FFD it is linked to PNC bank.

HAZMAT SPILL AT GRINDERS STORE

On October 5, 2011 Co. 8 was alerted to the 4400 block of Chicamuxen Rd. for the Hazmat Spill. Engine 8-3, 8-2, PA 8-9, and Safety 8 responded on the call. Engine 8-3 arrived and found approx 20-30 gallons of #2 diesel fuel that had leak from one of the dispensing pumps. Crew from Engine 8-3 contained the spill and awaited the arrival of Hazmat Team 16. Chief 8A had the command and held the units from 8 and 16. Units operated for approx 30 minutes before returning to service. 

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE & MANDY KING!

The department would like to congratulate Lt. Mike King and his wife Mandy on the birth of their daughter, Addison Lea.  Baby Addison was born on October 5, 2011 at 6:19 PM. 

FIRE BOAT UPDATE

September 13 - The construction of the fire boat is complete. The committee will be heading up to New Hampshire next week to do the final inspection and bring it back.  

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HAZMAT SPILL AT SWEDEN POINT MARINA

On September 9, 2011 @ 1322 hrs Co. 8 was alerted to Sweden Point Marina for the Hazmat Spill in the Mattawoman Creek. Engine 8-3, Rescue 8, BSU 8, Inflatable 8, Medic 8 and Chief 8B responded. Chief 8B arrived first to find a large house boat that had sank at the floating pier during the recent storm and was leaking fluids into the creek. Chief 8B established the Sweden Point Command and assigned Batt. Chief 7 (Grinder) as operations. A game plan was established with the help of Special Unit 9 and the Hazmat duty officer from 16 (Thompson), so Boat 7 was called upon to help deploy absorbent pads inside the floating pier to help contain the spill. Command called for MDE and DNR to respond along with Potomac Marine. Units operated for approx 90 minutes before returning to service. The scene was turned over to MDE, DNR, and Potomac Marine.

ANOTHER STORM PASSES THRU THE AREA AND KEEPS THE VOLUNTEERS BUSY

On September 7th and 8th a storm passed thru the Southern Maryland area and dumped numerous inches of rain on the area. Company 8 after just recovering from Hurricane Irene again called on the volunteers to help staff the station for this period of time. During this period units from Company 8 responded to over 30 runs including 18 swift water incidents throughout the county, numerous trees down, and one house collapse in Co. 7’s area. Company 8 maintained staffing throughout the entire storm to include 5 swift water technicians. Again many thanks to the volunteers who helped staff the apparatus during this event.

HURRICANE IRENE KEEPS COMPANY BUSY FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD

On Saturday August 27, 2011 at approx 1200 hours members gathered at the station to start staffing the apparatus for the upcoming hurricane. At approx 1500 hours the company began to run storm related incidents and it continued thru the night and into the next afternoon. When all was said and done and the storm had passed thru Company 8 finished with 40 calls including 2 trees on residences, several wires down, copious amounts of trees in the road, a building fire, and the swift water team was alerted to assist with a person who had fallen down a cliff in Co. 14’ s area. During this period the members fully staffed 6 pieces of apparatus including a duty chief (Capt. Graff) with a total of 22 members present. During the down times between runs all members participated in a corn hole tournament and enjoyed some good chow provided by the department. Many thanks to all members who showed up and helped out. 

SWIFT WATER RESCUE TRAINING

On Saturday August 20, 2011 Co. 8 conducted a swift water rescue drill at our station. The drill consisted of setting up a high line operation utilizing the tripod as a change of direction and a 3:1 Z rig to tension the line. Members drilled for approx 3 hours.

FIRE BOAT UPDATE 

August 6- The fire boat is out of the paint shop and back at Viking Welding for completion. The committee should be heading up to do the final inspection within the next few weeks.

FATAL EXCAVATOR ACCIDENT 

Sunday, July 17 at 2030 - Company 8 and surrounding units were dispatched to the 5500 block of Serenity Lane in Marbury for an excavator accident with the operator trapped. Rescue 8, Engine 8-3, PA 16-7 (from Station 8 as PA 8-9) and Chief 8B (Gordon) responded. Upon arrival, it was evident that the victim had suffered fatal injuries. The accident involved a large tree that was 7 feet in diameter, the tree was resting on top of the excavator, trapping the occupant. Chief 8B established the Serenity Lane Command and a plan was developed to remove the victim. It was determined that additional resources would be needed to remove the tree safely from the excavator. A large crane was requested from G and M Towing in Newburg along with a tree expert (Jay Gatchels Tree Service). Once these experts had removed the tree, the crew from RS 7 (Potomac Heights) shored the excavator using cribbing. The crew from Rescue 8 used hand tools and hydraulic rescue tools to extricate the victim. The scene was turned over the the CCSO for investigation. Crews remained on the scene for three hours. Engine 9-2 (Indian Head) filled in at our station. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim of this unfortunate accident.

FIRE BOAT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

June 24- Some of the committee members made the trip up to New Hampshire to do the pre-paint inspection on the boat this past week. The project is progressing on time and we expect to go back up for the final inspection sometime in early August.

ADDITION TO THE TDVFD FAMILY

We want to congratulate members Aaron and Jessica Campillo on the birth of their son Alec Joseph on June 21st.

FIRE BOAT CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

May 15 - The Fire Boat construction is moving forward at a rapid pace. The committee will be going up to New Hampshire this week to do the mid point inspection.

WORK CONTINUES ON NEW MARINE SUPPORT UNIT

May 15 - The body was installed on the new Marine Support Unit this week and the piece is back in the station. Our Chief Engineer is installing the lights and radios and the lettering should be completed next week