This evening as the Dunkirk Volunteers were preparing for their annual MAYDAY training, the Box was struck for a house on fire at 1137 Mt.Zion Marlboro Rd. in Anne Arundel County.  Engine 5(Lt.C. Sines) staffed with 5, arrived shortly after  Anne Arundel Engine 9 to find fire showing from a 1 story SFD.  Engine 5 stretched a 200' 1 3/4 attack line to Division 1, and along with Engine 9 knocked down the bulk of the fire within10 minutes.  Engine 5 remained on scene for 2 hours assisting units with overhaul.

Command:BFC 3(Parks) Division 1: Lt.9 (Eagen)

As the county residents were making there way through Dunkirk this morning during rushour, the Rescue Assignment reported serious was dispatched at Southern Md. Blvd. and Chaneyville Rd.  This brought Chief 5, Chief 6A(M.Montgomery) Rescue Squads 5(Capt. M.Groce) and 6, Ambulances 5(J.White) and 1 , and Medic 105 to the run.  Chief 5 arrived on location of a 2 vehicle "T-Bone" type collision with one trapped.  Rescue Squad 5 arrived on the scene, stabilized the vehicle,  and made quick work of the trapped occupant by removing the door using the AMKUS Spreaders, and Speedway cutters.  The occupant was turned over to awaiting EMS units on scene and transported to an area hospital.

Command:Chief 5/Operations Captain 5(M.Groce)

Story by:Fire Chief Toby Sealey

Thanks to DC HOOKED ON PHOTOGRAPHY for the use of his pictures.

This afternoon shortly after lunch Box 42-14 was dispatched for the House Fire at 5800 Little Road, in Lothian Md. This alerted Chief 5A (E.Holzberger), Engine 52 (Lt. S. Allen), Engine 51 (Sgt. Skaggs) which was clearing a medical local in North Beach, and Tanker 5 (F. Holzberger) to the call with a total of 9 men. Engine 52, AACo.Engine 9, and AACo 42 all arrived within seconds of one another to find a 2 story single family dwelling/ordinary construction with smoke and fire showing from the first floor on Side A. The Lieutenant from Dunkirk was assigned Division 1, and the crew from Engine 52, stretched the 200’ 1 ¾” attack line from Engine 9, and mounted an aggressive interior attack. As the crew made their push in the front of the house they were met with high heat and zero visibility. The lineman located the seat of the fire on Division 1 and knocked down the same as the remaining crew members conducted a primary search of the fire room. The crews operating on Division 1 noticed that the heat was not dissipating despite all visible fire being knocked down.   At this time the crew from Engine 52 regrouped and exited the house to exchange air cylinders. As the crew was exiting the house heavy fire conditions in the basement were noticed. Engine 51 arrived on location and took over Division 1 and made entry into the house along with firefighters from Engine 9 and 42. The crews entered the home in an attempt to locate the basement stairs to prevent further spread of the blaze on Division 1, however as the crew entered the house approximately 3-5 feet, the floor collapsed sending all 5 firefighters tumbling into the basement where heavy fire conditions were present. A MAYDAY was sounded for firefighters trapped in the basement by Engine 51(Sgt.Skaggs). As the crew regrouped in the basement the Lineman from Engine 51 was able to put the attack line back in service to prevent direct flame impingement on the trapped crew. Witnessing this event unfold, two off-duty DC Firemen (Tech K. Boswell and FF J. Bolton that live nearby), along with P.G.Chief 820A (T.Clark), the crew from Engines 52, and P.G.Engine 845,(R.I.T.) without hesitation of the fire conditions now present, immediately deployed ground ladders through the front door and window to allow a means of egress for the firefighters in the basement. All firefighters were able to ascend the ladders to safety in the front yard, and were turned over to awaiting EMS units on scene for evaluation. Three of the five Firefighters were treated and released on scene, the Firefighter from Anne Arundel (also a Calvert County Volunteer) was transported to MEDSTAR for facial injuries, broken ribs, and smoke inhalation. The Firefighter from Dunkirk was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital for minor smoke inhalation, lacerations, and neck and back injuries. The remaining Dunkirk Volunteers on scene along with other units operated until 1800 hours due to extensive overhaul operations. Both Firemen are believed to be released from the hospital today.
 
The Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Firefighters involved in the rescue of our men, along with the Firefighters from Anne Arundel County. Your selfless acts most definitely prevented a tragedy from occurring.
 
Command: Battalion Chief 3 (Parks) Division 1:Lieutenant 5
(S. Allen/C.Sines)
 
Story by Fire Chief Toby Sealey
Special thanks to www.firefighterclosecalls.com , FF Jesse Bolton(DCFD)and Fox 5 for the use of their pictures.

This afternoon as Engine 5(Capt. C.Mills) was clearing a medical local, the Box was dispatched for a House FIre at 3700 6th Street in North Beach.  This also brought Rescue Squad 5(Lt. S. Allen), and Tanker 5 to the scene.  First arriving units reported a 1 story SFD with smoke showing.  The Dunkirk Volunteers arrived shortly after,  made an agressive push on the fire, and with the assistance of Company 1 units,  had the bulk of the fire knocked down, and searches completed within 10 min.  One Dunkirk Volunteer suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, however was treated and released on the scene. Units operated for about 2 hours before being released.

Command:Chief 1(Freesland) / Interior Capt 5(C.Mills) 

Story by: Chief Toby Sealey

Pictures courtesy of Dunkirk Volunteers Lee Girard, and Allen Marcellas.

Today around 1530 hours the Box was dispatched for a House Fire at 300 Sun Park Lane, in Huntingtown.  This brought Engine 51(Capt.Groce), and Tanker 5(H.Kelly) to the scene.  Units initially went on the scene with 1 story SFD with nothing evident, however upon entry were confronted with high heat and smoke conditions. The crew from Engine 5 entered the basement from Side C of the house, reported no smoke or fire conditions, and assisted Huntingtown units on Division 1. As crews were pushing through the house it was discovered that the fire had been snuffed out prior to arrival, however uring the primary search of the residence Rescue Squad 6 located and removed 1 victim from the bathroom, who was turned over to awaiting EMS providers.  Unfortunately the victim perished in the fire despite lifesaving efforts by units on scene.

Story by: Chief Toby Sealey

For the second time within 6 hours the Dunkirk Volunteers were put to work, this time in Anne Arundel County. Units were dispatched to the 6100 blk of McKendree Rd. for the House Fire. This brought Engine 5(Capt.Mills), Tanker 5(FF Lisko), and Chief 5 to the scene. Chief 5 arrived on location of a 1 story SFD with fire showing from sides A,C, and D. AACounty Engine 42 arrived on location and established command as Chief 5 took care of the interior division.  Engine 5(third-due) arrived alongside Engine42, assumed second due responsibilities, deployed a 200' 1 3/4" handline, and along with Engine 42 mounted an aggressive interior attack, as PG Squad 820 (staffed by 4 Dunkirk Volunteers on a transfer) conducted a primary search which was negative.  As units were making their push on the fire they were confronted with high heat and heavy fire conditions in a very "cut-up" house that was totally converted into an office-space.  Units had the bulk of the fire knocked down in 15 min.

Command:AACountyCapt42(Willis)/BFC3(M.Smith), Interior:Chief 5(T Sealey)

Just before lunchtime today, the Box was dispatched at 2470 Emmanuel Ct., in Huntingtown.   This brought Engine 51(Lt.Sines), 52(AFC Holzberger), Tanker 5(Capt.Groce), and Chief 5 (in the area) to the scene with a total of 9 men. The original call was for a woodstove on fire, however Engine 6 arrived to find a 2 story commercial building with heavy fire showing with exposure issues to B1 and D1.  The Engines from Dunkirk arrived on location, and backed up Engine 6's crew in the main fire building.  Due to the crews mounting an aggressive interior attack the fire was brought under control within 20 min.  Crews operated on the fireground for approx. 2 hours before returning to service.

Command: Chief 6A(M.Montgomery), Operations:Chief 6C(P.Morris),

Division 1: Chief 5(T.Sealey)

On a side note Dunkirk Volunteers would like to thank DCFD Firefighter Shaun Marlowe, and Dunkirk Firefighter Joey Perkins for the use of their pictures.

Fire Chief-Toby Sealey

Assistant Chief-Eric Holzberger

Deputy Chief-Charles "Bucky" Miles

EMS Chief-Katie Hanko

Safety Officer-Jason White

Engine Captain-Mike Groce

Squad Captain-Chris Mills

EMS Captain-Danielle Dillon

Engine Lieutenant-Shawn Allen

Squad Lieutenant-Charlie Sines

EMS Lieutenant-Vacant

Engine Sergeant-Charlie Groce

Squad Sergeant-Dave Skaggs

EMS Sergeant-Stacey Dize

Chief Engineer-Rusty Helwig

Units from Dunkirk, and North Beach were alerted to 453 Deale Road in Anne Arundel County for a reported boat fire in the Marina.  AAEngine 42 arrived and confirmed one boat occupied as a house with fire showing and exposure problems. Engine 5, and Tower 1 worked together extinguishing fire in the exposure, and assisted with overhaul. Units operated for 2 hours.  

Shortly after breakfast this morning, the Dunkirk Volunteers were dispatched to 1002 Concord Lane for a subject that had fallen off of a cliff.   This brought Squad 5, BX5, Amb.5, and Chief 5B to the scene.  Units arrived to find a middle aged male that had fallen 100 feet into a creekbed, and it was unknown how long he had been down for.  The crew from Squad 5 pushed through over 2 feet of snow, and deployed the technical rescue gear,  secured a firefighter, and stokes basket with medical supplies; and began a controlled descent down to the patient. The patient was packaged up and brought up to awaiting medical personel where he was transported in critical condition to a local hospital. Units operated for just over an hour.

Command: Deputy Chief Bucky Miles