Rescue Squad 14, Chief 14A (McCoy) and Chief 14B(Kitchen) responded on this multi-vehicle accident on northbound Interstate 95 in the area of Sandy Spring Road. The accident occurred just as snowfall started and left a driver of on vehicle heavily pinned. The rescue squad crew removed all four doors and the roof, and lifted the dash to free the trapped occupant. Extrication was completed in under 10 minutes from the time Rescue Squad 14 arrived on scene and the patient was transported to a local trauma center.

At 1506 hours, Truck 14 was alerted on the Street Alarm (2 & 1) for the report of a shed on fire. Engine Company 11 (Branchville) arrived to find a one-story dwelling with heavy smoke showing and filled out the box. Truck 14 arrived just behind them, located a fire in quadrant B of the home, completed the primary and secondary search, and ventilated. The driver, tillerman, and laddermen on the exterior threw ladders to the roof, and ventilated vertically and horizontally. Engine Company 11 quickly extinguished the fire and the assignment scaled back to 11 and 14. Truck 14 cleared at 1650 hours.

Rescue Squad 14 removed a door at Kenilworth Avenue and Westchester Park Drive to remove a trapped occupant. The patient was transported by Ambulance 148 to a local hospital.

At this point in the manufacturing process, the aerial ladder has been mounted on the trailer, and the trailer has been connected to the tractor. BHVFD Apparatus Committee members will soon be making the trip to Clintonville, Wisconsin to conduct the final inspection at Seagrave.

Fire in the basement of a single-family dwelling. Chief 14A (McCoy) had the Command, Chief 14B (Kitchen) had the Basement Division, and Rescue Squad 14 (3rd due special service) was the Rapid Intervention Team.

As units were operating on a separate vehicle accident on southbound I-95 with one trapped in a car on fire, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted for one trapped on northbound I-95. Rescue Squad 14 arrived and found one trapped in an SUV on its side which was resting in a drainage ditch. The squad crew stabilized the vehicle by using a picket anchoring system, ratchet straps, wood cribbing and airshores. The roof of the SUV was then removed and the patient was extricated.

Rescue Squad 14 extricated two patients from this car by removing two doors. Chief 14A (McCoy) had the Command.

Here are some pictures of the progress of Berwyn Heights VFD's new Seagrave Tractor Drawn Aerial being manufactured in Clintonville, Wisconsin. The ladder truck is coming together well and should be completed in February.

Recently, PGFD Chief Eugene A. Jones presented Emergency Service Awards to members of the Berwyn Heights VFD for two separate incidents.

Making the first award presentation Fire Chief Jones stated, “On Saturday, October 17th 2009 at 0847 hrs, Prince George’s County Public Safety Communications dispatched Box Alarm 14-12 for an apartment on fire with people trapped at 5925 Cherrywood Terrace, which is located in Empirian Village Apartment complex (formerly known as Springhill Lake). The first arriving unit, Truck 814, reported heavy fire showing from the second floor and immediately asked for a second alarm to be transmitted. Due to the early morning hour of a weekend day, the Truck crew quickly encountered several residents who were trapped on balconies and in the interior stairwell of the first and second floors. Without hesitation and without the protection of a charged hand-line, the crew from Truck 814 rescued seven occupants from the fire building. Your actions are held in the highest tradition of the fire service and are commendable.”

Emergency Services Awards were presented to the following personnel:

The second award presentation to members of Berwyn Heights was for their challenging extrication of a victim trapped by his vehicle after being ejected and being partially submerged under water. While making this presentation Chief Jones stated, “A full sized SUV had traveled off a ramp from the Capitol Beltway Route 495 to Interstate 95 approximately 100’ into a 25’ deep ravine. The SUV overturned and then came to rest in approximately four feet of standing water. A teenage male patient was trapped beneath the SUV and partially submerged underwater. The patient was only visible from the neck up. Surrounding the ravine, were several trees and a dense brush which prevented initial access for all providers. Once stabilization of the vehicle was complete, a crew member entered into the water and began to work beneath the water to extricate the patient. This was a particularly difficult task. Volunteer Fire Fighter Kevin McVey, who was operating the Amkus equipment under the water, had to feel for the victim and then feel for the proper place to cut. Prior to making his cuts, he had to hold the victim away from the blades of the cutters to ensure he did not cause any further harm to the patient. The teen-aged patient was extricated and transported to a trauma center in critical condition.”

The following personnel were presented with Emergency Services Awards:

Rescue Squad 14 removed two doors and B-post to extricate a trapped occupant of this car involved in a motor vehicle accident that was up against a guard rail.

Congratulations to Berwyn Heights Volunteer Firefighter Dave Cooper on graduating from the District of Columbia Fire Department's Recruit School. Firefighter Cooper was in DCFD Recruit Class 360, and has been appointed to Engine Company 32 located in the Southeast quadrant of the city in the Garfield community. Many BHVFD members were on hand for the graduation.

Around noon, Truck 14 and Chief 14A (McCoy) were alerted to 6227 Springhill Court in the Empirian Village Apartment Complex (formerly known as Springhill Lake) for smoke in the building. Truck 14 found an electrical panel on fire in the basement of the three-story, garden apartment. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, many residents required temporary shelter arrangements due to the loss of electrical power. Chief 14A had the Command.