Updated: September 21st, 1998
Recent Working Incidents Log

RECENT INCIDENTS:
We Make Every Attempt To Put All Incidents Here, However Not All Incidents Are Listed
Major Incidents/Recaps May Link To Their Own News Page
9/21/98 - Entrapment on University Boulevard
    At about 4:20 p.m., Rescue Squad 1 was special-called to the scene of a personal injury accident in the 2400 block of University Boulevard in Adelphi. A woman was trapped in her compact car after being involved in a crash with another vehicle. After the collision, the victim's car ended up over two median strips in a service road adjacent to the main highway. The victim was extricated in about 15 minutes and was transported by paramedics to Prince George's Hospital Center suffering mutiple traumatic injuries. The last units cleared the scene at about 4:50 p.m. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Prince George's County Police Department.
9/12/98 - Extrication on Good Luck Road
    Squad 1 responded to a high-speed head-on collision at Good Luck Rd & Trexler Street. The door and roof were removed, and a dash roll-up performed in about 10 minutes to free the driver of a Lincoln Town Car, who was suffering from chest and multiple-leg trauma.
7/25/98 - Adelphi Working House Fire
    At about 1145 hours on Saturday, July 25, Truck 1 was dispatched to "the house next to" 1804 Keokee Street off Riggs Road in Adelphi for a reported house on fire. Units from the Chillum-Adelphi station arrived and reported heavy fire conditions in the rear of the house. The fire took about 20 minutes to bring under control. An elderly woman suffering smoke inhalation was transported to Washington Adventist Hospital. An additional engine and truck company were called to the scene to assist. Truck 1 was on the scene for almost 4 hours as the first due truck, performing search & rescue, ventilation, ladder operations, supression and overhaul.
    Units from Chillum-Adelphi, Chillum, Hyattsville, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Hillandale and College Park responded.
7/11/98 - Medevac from Swimming Pool Accident
    A 51-year-old male was flown to the MIEMSS Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore this afternoon after injuring his back in a swimming pool accident. The man, who paramedics said had been drinking, dove into approximately 8 feet of water in an in-ground pool. Upon hitting the water in an odd position, the man was unable to move below the waist. Later into the incident, the man had regained some ability to move his toes. He was transported by Maryland State Police Trooper-2, which landed across the street from the Hyattsville firehouse. The incident happened in the 4000 block of Nicholson Street.
    Units responding: Ambulance 18, Medic 1 (ALS), Rescue Squad 1 (scene manpower), MSP Trooper 2, Engine 11 (for the LZ)
 4/1/98 - 10 Displaced in Adelphi Group Home Fire
    At about 2220 hours, units from Chillum-Adelphi and the surrounding area were dispatched for a reported house fire at 8402 Rambler Drive in Adelphi. Units arrived and found an automobile ablaze with fire extending to the porch and inside to the garage and living room. Crews helped the residents from the burning house, many of whom were trying to get out a single door on the side of the house. At least 7 elderly residents of the group home, a large split-level, and three care-takers escaped the blaze without serious injury. Several residents were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, but none required transport. Damage was estimated at about $40,000 to the structure and its contents. About 50 fire/rescue personnel were on the scene.
    Units responding: Engines 341 & 342 (Chillum-Adelphi), Engine 11, Truck 1, Rescue Squad 1 and Chief 1b (Hyattsville), Engine 111 & 112 (Branchville), Engine 121, Truck 12, Ambulance 129, Chief 12, 12a and 12b and Medic 8 (College Park), Engine 72, Tower 7, Chief 7, 7a and 7b (Riverdale).
 3/28/98 - Extrication in Adelphi
    At about 11:45 pm, Engine Company 34, Ambulance 348, Rescue Squad 1 and Medic 8 were dispatched for a reported vehicle overturned at 23rd Avenue and University Boulevard. Units arrived on the scene of a t-bone accident between a sport utility vehicle and a minivan. The minivan was overturned and on its side (drivers). The driver was lying against the pavement in the minivan. Rescue Squad 1 peeled back part of the roof and stabilized the vehicle to remove the victim in about 20 minutes. Medic 8 transported the victim, a 42 year old male, as a mechanism trauma to the MedStar Trauma Unit at Washington Hospital Center. Two other people were taken by Ambulance 18 and A-348 to Washington Adventist Hospital. Police said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
 3/26/98 - House Fire in Chillum
    Engine 11 and Truck 1 responded for a house fire. Fire in the kitchen with extension to the attic.
 3/22/98 - Two Critical After Car Flips Over
    At about 0445 hours, Engine Company 13, Ambulance 139, Medic 6 and Rescue Squad 1 were dispatched to Riverdale Road and Auburn Avenue for a reported vehicle accident with serious injuries. Units arrived and found a car that had clipped a tree, went airborne, and landed on parked cars. The driver of the vehicle was ejected and a second victim was trapped in the rear seat of the car. Crews stabilized the vehicle and removed serveral doors and the roof to extricate the victim, who had at least one femur fracture and was in critical condition. The driver was also in critical condition with life-threatening injuries and taken to Prince George's Hospital Center as well. The extrication took about 15 minutes. Police were investigating the cause of the crash. Chief 1B, Luke Alar, had command of the incident. Other personnel from Company 1 responding: Vol. Sgt. Chuck Patrick (Squad OIC), Vol. Lts. Marshall Davies and Tommy Falcone, Firefighters Horace Stanback and Jerry Beardmore and Volunteer Firefighters Christopher Hebert and Eric Bowers.
 3/14/98 - Auto Extrication in Riverdale
    Shortly after 1 a.m. units from Riverdale and Hyattsville were dispatched for a car accident at East West Highway and Taylor Road. Chief 7 arrived on the scene and advised of one victim trapped and requested additional EMS units, including a second BLS unit and medic unit. Squad 1 extricated the adult female driver in about 15 minutes. Two children were in the car. One was transported via Ambulance 18 with a paramedic from Medic 7 onboard to Children's Hospital as a Priority-2 mechanism trauma. The adult female driver of the car, who was trapped, was transported by Medic 7 to the MedStar Trauma Unit of Washington Hospital Center, also as a Priority-2 mechanism trauma. Ambulance 79, Engine 72 and Chief 1b were on the scene as well performing EMS and extrication support operations. Chief 7 had the command of the incident.
 3/13/98 - House Fire in Hyattsville
    At about 11:09 p.m. fire/rescue units were dispatched for a reported house fire at 3404 Nicholson Street in Hyattsville. Chief 1B, Luke Alar, arrived on the scene almost immediately reporting smoke coming from the house. A matress fire in a first-floor bedroom extended to the remainder of the room and slightly to the attic. The fire took less than ten minutes to bring under control. The cause of the fire was an electrical. Engine 11, Truck 1, Ambulance 18, Chief 1, Chief 1a and Chief 1b responded, as well as units from Riverdale, Mount Rainier, Brentwood and Chillum. Damages were estimated at $10,000 to the structure and contents. Rescue Squad 2, Truck 2 and Rescue 2 were transferred to Station 1 for about an hour.
 3/6/98 - Mount Rainer House Fire
    At about 11 pm. units from Mount Rainer and the surrounding area were dispatched for a reported house fire on 36th Street. Units arrived on the scene and reported heavy fire conditions. Engine 11 and Truck 1 responded, as well as Chief 1a. Units were on the scene for about two hours performing supression, search and rescue and overhaul operations.
 3/5/98 - Extrication in Chillum
2/28/98 - Bladensburg House Burns Again
    Tonight units from Bladensburg and the surrounding area were dispatched to the 4700 block of Decatur Street for a reported house fire. A Edmonston police officer on stake out at the house called in the blaze after observing a woman set the fire. The fire took about 30 minutes to bring fully under control as there were several set fires and crews performed extensive overhaul operations. Engine Company 1 and Rescue Squad 1 responded along with Chief 1b. A woman in her 60's was arrested and charged with arson.
 2/26/98 -One Dead in Crash With Extrication
2/22/98 - Bladensburg House Fire
    At about 9:15 pm fire/rescue units from Bladensburg, Riverdale, Cottage City, Hyattsville and Brentwood were dispatched to 47th Avenue & Decatur Street for a reported house fire. Telesquirt 9 and other units from Bladensburg arrived on the scene and reported a working fire on the second floor, that extended into that attic. Engine 11, Truck 1, Rescue Squad 1, Ambulance 18 and Chief 1-a responded to the call with 20 personnel. Units performed supression, utility control, lighting, checked for extension and overhaul and were on the scene for about an hour. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
 2/8/98 - College Park Apartment Fire
    At about 7:30 a.m., units from College Park the surrounding area were dispatched to 4619 College Avenue for a reported apartment building fire. Engine 11 and Truck 1 responded. Units from College Park arrived and reported fire in the walls extending rapidly. Two additional engine companies were requested. The fire took about 25 minutes to be controlled. Units from Hyattsville were on the scene for more than an hour after to assist.
2/1/98 - Engine/Squad on First Due House Fire
    At about 3:45, a call directly from a citizen to the firehouse reported a house fire at 4204 Sheriden Street in University Park. Engine 11 arrived on the scene and reported a working fire in the walls on the first floor, extending to the second floor and breaking to the outside. Squad 1, Chief 1 and Car 110 (Safety) also responded to the scene. The fire took about 20 minutes to bring under control. Later in the evening, at the request of the resident, volunteers from the HVFD returned to the scene to assist in covering up the side of the house that had to be torn away to search for hidden fire. Units from Hyattsville, Riverdale, Chillum, Riverdale Heights, Mount Rainer and Brentwood responded. One firefighters from Company 1 was taken to Washington Adventist Hospital for treatment of debris in the eye. Damage was estimated at about $30,000 to the two-story home.
 1/21/98 - Squad/MSU Does Entry On Level III Hazardous Materials Incident
    Old Baltimore Pike at Ammendale Road, Co. 31-Beltsville. At about 1100 a truck carrying compressed cylinders of liquid oxygen overturned while trying to avoid a collision with a car that had pulled out it front of it. Metro Support Unit/Rescue Squad 1, with a crew of 6, was dispatched as per protocal on all Northside Level III Hazardous Materials assignment. The unit's officer, V/Capt. Keith Rinehimer had accountability on the incident and the crew was part of the entry team along with HazMat Squad 22's crew. In the crash, some product was released into the air initially, but it did not pose a major problem to the environment. A full Level III hazardous materials response was called to the scene and a hot zone was established. Some of the area's businesses were evacuated and traffic was cleared from the area. The accident clean up took about five-and-a-half hours.
1/8/98 - Two Trauma Victims Trapped In Crash
    Earlier this evening, Engine 441 and Ambulance 449 from the Chillum station were dispatched for a reported 4-car crash at 23rd Avenue and East West Highway. Within a minute of their arrival, the officer from Engine Co. 44 requested additional units, including Rescue Squad 1, a medic unit and Ambulance 18 as the second BLS unit. Within 20 minutes of their arrival, the crew from Squad 1 had extricated two trauma victims. One was removed from the passenger seat in the front of the car and the second was pinned in the rear. The car had substantial damage in the front, passenger side and rear after being struck from behind by a car and then striking a sport utility vehicle in front of it. Both victims, men, were transported by Medic 1 and Ambulance 18 to the MedStar trauma unit at Washington Hospital Center. The squad crew removed the passenger door and roof to extricate the victims. Engine 12 was called to the scene later to assist in cleaning up the roadway.
    Photos from this incident will be online soon
 1/4/98 - Working Apartment Fire in Riverdale Heights
    At about 2300 hours on 1/4/98, units were dispatched to 5215 56th Avenue in Co. 13's Area, Riverdale Heights, for a reported apartment fire. Battalion Chief 8 arrived reporting a working fire in an apartment on the top floor. The fire was knocked down in about 10 minutes. The cause of the fire was under investigation. No injuries were reported. Rescue Squad 1 and Truck 1 responded with 12 personnel. Sgt. Hang, Lt. Davies and Lt. Falcone were the unit OICs. Chief 1a also responded.

 1/3/98 - Auto Extrication in Adelphi
    At about 0300 hours on Saturday, January 3rd, Engine Co. 34 and Ambulance 449 were dispatched to 23rd Avenue and University Blvd for a reported vehicle accident with injuries. Engine 342 arrived on the scene and immediately requested a rescue squad and medic unit. Rescue Squad 1 responded with a crew of six: Sgt. Dave Iannone, Fire Technician Kenny Stack, F/F Jonathan Henson, and Volunteer F/Fs Chris Hebert, Mike Walker and Scott Lone. The squad popped the door on one of the two vehicles. There were two priority-2 traumas as a result of the accident, taken to MedStar in Washington and Prince George's General Hospital. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the accident, police said.


Copyright 1998, Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.