Fourth Battalion firefighters spent the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, January 17th, battling a deep seated brush fire in Rock Creek Park.

The fire was located on Murrow Drive NW, which runs off 16th Street near the Carter Barron amphitheatre. Engine 24 was initially dispatched, but requested additional resources when the magnitude of the incident became apparent.

Eventually, 3 engines and a truck, under the command of the Fourth Battalion Chief, were needed to control the flames. The canteen unit also responded to the scene, due to a wind chill of minus 3. (DCFD.com)

With fire showing from all three floors and the roof, a second alarm was sounded. Despite the heavy fire conditions, crews maintained their aggressive interior attack and soon were able to contain the blaze.

In the evening of December 17th, fire communications transmitted the box for 3100 14th Street, NW in Engine 11's first due for a report of an auto on fire in an underground garage. This address is the new shopping mall in Columbia Heights. Engine 11 & Truck 6 (with A-11 tagging along) responded to the Hiatt Place entrance and found smoke showing from the garage entrance. The crew of E-11, under the command of Capt. Rice, stretched the 350' which was extended with a 100' rack. The men found an auto off on the P-1 level and extinguished the same. Truck 6 did a search of the area and was then tasked with an extensive smoke removal effort.

On a side note, FF Frank Iscoa made a comeback to #1 platoon for this fire while standing by for Tech Sinon. Congratulations to Frank on his recent promotion to Technician of E-11-3, we won't tell anyone you we're driving the truck.

In the afternoon of December 13th, DCFD units responded to this house fire at 6409 13th St NW. Engine 11 went 3rd due, Truck 6 2nd due. Ambulance 11 & the 4th BFC also responded. Companies found smoke showing from the 1st floor & basement with a room off in the basement. E-11 backed up E-22 on the 1st floor. Truck 6 took the alley and forced entry to the rear, laddered the house, and ventilated. Fire was contained to the basement. BFC Faulkner (B-4-1) had command.

DC firefighters battled a small attic fire in the Fourth Battalion on Thursday evening, November 20. The blaze erupted around 10:45 PM in a three story row home at 1372 Taylor Street NW. Units assigned on the box and working fire dispatch were able to quickly open and contain the flames to a small portion of the attic. (DCFD.com)

Engine 11 (2nd Due), Truck 6 (1st Due), and Battalion Fire Chief 4 (Faulkner) responded to 4602 14th St., NW for "Smoke in the Apartment." Engine 11 and Truck 6 arrived 1st to find a 4 story apartment with nothing evident from the front. Upon making entry to the first floor, thick smoke was found issuing from the rear of the apartment. Truck 6 opened up the floor below the heater and found fire in the floor boards. Engine 11 advanced their attack line to the rear and was faced with several security devices. After the wagon driver and layout man forced entry in the rear, the crew was able to extinguish the fire in the basement ceiling. Truck 6 threw several ground ladders, forced entry, and assisted in ventilation and opening up. The fire was quickly placed under control.

Battalion 4 held Engine 24 (Dispatched 1st due) for overhaul and cleanup. All units cleared within an hour.

The Officers and Members of the House of Flame extend our congratulations to Sgt. Mike White, Sgt. Kenny Nehf, and Sgt. Chris Tucker. These men served the House of Flame proudly for the past several years. We wish them all the best of luck in their new promotions and hope that they are able to return to the House of Flame in the near future. Good Luck!

Engine 11, Truck 6, and Battalion Chief 4, along with other units from the 4th Battalion were dispatched for the house fire at 1034 Quebec Pl., NW. Engine 11 arrived seconds after dispatch with fire showing from the first floor. Engine 11 advanced a pre-connected attack line into the fire floor and began to knock down the fire. Truck 6 threw over 6 ground ladders, placed the aerial ladder to the roof, vented laterally and vertically, removed security bars, and performed a primary search of the 1st and 2nd floors while Engine 11 and remaining 4th Battalion units worked on extinguishing the well-seated blaze. The occupancy was extremely cluttered with personal items and clothing. The fire conditions began to rapidly deteriorate forcing commanding officers to request 2 additional alarms for the possible exposure issues. Engine 11 and Truck 6 controlled the fire and rescue 1 dog successfully. Unfortunately, 1 adult female succumbed to her injuries associated with this fire.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the citizen who passed away at the residence.

Units remained on the scene assisting DCFD Fire Investigators for over 8 hours. Engine 11 and Truck 6 completed overhaul operations and returned to service.

Engine 11 (4th Due), Truck 6 (2nd Due), and other units from the 4th Battalion were dispatched to 5505 5th St., NW for smoke coming from the building. First arriving units arrived to find a 5 story apartment/office building with smoke showing. Truck 6 arrived in the rear with heavy fire showing from the 1st floor. Engine 11 advanced a back-up line into the fire room and assisted Engine Co.22 with extinguishing the bulk of the fire. Truck 6 vented, threw numerous ground ladders, opened up the roof, and assisted in the extensive overhaul operations. The fire room was found to be a "Thrift Store" filled with clothes and other items of sale.

Battalion 4 held Truck 6 to assist remaining units with overhaul. All units cleared within 3 hours. A Second Alarm was sounded due to the amount of fire involving the building.

Units from the 4th Battalion were dispatched to 2323 Sherman Ave., NW for smoke in the area. Engine 11 (3rd Due), Truck 6 (2nd Due), and Battalion Chief 4 (BFC Faulkner) responded from quarters. Engine 4 arrived seconds ahead of Engine 11 and reported heavy smoke and fire showing from the roof. Engine 11 picked up Engine 4's line and advanced the 350' attack line inside. Engine 11 extinguished fire on the first floor and made their way upstairs and extinguished fire on the second floor. Truck 6 arrived in the rear, placed the 100' aerial to the roof, threw several ground ladders, forced entry, and performed a primary search while waiting on Rescue Squad 1 to arrive. After the fire was extinguished, Truck 6 assisted with overhaul.

BFC-4 held Engine 4 & 9, Trucks 9 & 6 to assist the Fire Investigators.

Photos courtesy of FF Joe Papariello (E11 #3)

The Armed Forces Retirement Home once again played host to the Fifth Annual Antique Fire Apparatus Show this past Saturday. Local 36 sponsors and promotes the event held each year to benefit the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation.

Apparatus awards were given in ten categories with plaques sponsored by Police & Firemen's Insurance Association. As always, the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums appointed themselves especially well, as did the DC Fire Department Barbecue Team. For the fifth year in a row, beautiful weather greeted friends, family, and visitors. (DCFD.com)

The fire ended up going to 4 alarms, spanning from #17 to #29 Todd Place, NE.

Audio provided by DCFireFeed.com

Special thanks to Rescue Squad 2 for helping with removing Truck 6 from the lawn on side C.

Units arrived to find heavy smoke showing from a one-story liquor store. As firefighters started attacking the fire, fire extended downward into the basement.

The fire was placed under control within 15 minutes. Truck 6 operated for over 2 hours while Engine 11 assisted in the exposures.

One firefighter from Engine 11 was transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. We are happy to report that a full recovery has been made by this firefighter.

A dwelling in the city's Columbia Heights sections was struck by a small blaze on Monday morning, August 4th.

Firefighters arrived at 1333 Harvard Street N.W. around 6:15 AM to find smoke showing from the front door of the three story row dwelling. Fire was found in a dryer with flames already extended into cabinets above.

The blaze was quickly knocked down, and units worked to halt any further extension and clear smoke conditions. The air unit and an investigator were called in to assist.

All occupants of the home were safely evacuated. Engine 11 and Truck 6 were both first due on the box and were held by command for overhaul.

Photos and story courtesy of DCFD.com

Units from the 4th Battalion were dispatched to the 200 block of Longfellow St., NW for a house on fire. First arriving units found a middle of the row rowhouse with heavy smoke showing from side A. As additional companies began to arrive, units found heavy fire issuing from side charlie of two rowhouses. Companies mounted an aggressive interior attack while command requested an additional alarm because of the rapidly extending fire to the delta exposures and increasing wind.

As Truck 6's driver and tillerman were operating on the roof with Truck 11's crew, Truck 11's Tillerman, FF Lewis, fell through the roof and a large column of fire erupted out of the hole. A MAYDAY was sounded for the missing firefighter. FF Lewis fell through the roof and into the second floor which was on fire. He was able to extricate himself onto a rear porch where a ladder was thrown to him and he was removed to an awaiting EMS unit. Luckily, FF Lewis is expected to make a full recovery.

As the mayday was sounded, an additional (3rd Alarm) was sounded by command bringing more units and firefighters. Units continued to deal with extreme heat and smoke conditions in three rowhouses as they battled the intense & deep seated fire. The fire came under control within 40 minutes.

The fire caused $1 million in damage to seven houses, including three homes across the alley in the 5500 block of Kansas Avenue due to radiant heat, one firefighter MAYDAY was resolved safely, several firefighters were transported for burns and heat exposure, and over 160 firefighters operated onscene.

Engine 11, Truck 6, and Battalion 4 were dispatched on 6/24/08 at 0400 to 935 Florida Ave., NW for the church fire. Engine 4 arrived onscene side Alpha with heavy fire showing from the top two floors. Engine 11 dispatched 5th arrived 3rd and was ordered to lay dual lines from Tower Ladder 3 to an independant water source. The Special Operations Battalion Chief advised command 6 that the building was vacant and en route Battalion 6 ordered all operations to be exterior. Engine 11 assisted with water supply while ladder pipes placed a quick knock down on the fire.

Truck 6 was dispatched on the Working Fire Dispatch and assisted with the Rapid Intervention duties. Units operated for over three hours mopping up hot spots and cleaning up. Battalion 4 assisted at the command post.

For More Info. on the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation visit: www.dcffburnfoundation.org

The officers and members of Engine Co.11 and Truck Co.6 extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Retired Captain Truman A. Cones. Captain Cones passed away on April 2, 2008.

We had the great opportunity of seeing Captain Cones and his wife this past summer at the Engine 11 Reunion. Captain Cones will truly be missed.

There will be a Memorial Mass at St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, 620 Best Gate Rd. Annopolis Md. on Friday April 11,2008 at 9:30 A.M.

A memorial wake will follow at the Knights of Pyphias 2529 Solomans Lsland Road, Annopolis Md. Address all further questions to the firehouse.