Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

Just after dinner on Sunday evening Engine, Tower, and Chief 611, and Engine and Safety Officer 618 were alerted along with Engine 404 (Herndon), Engine and Tower 436 (Frying Pan), Rescue and Ambulance 625 (Sterling Rescue), Battalion Chief 601 (staffed by our own AC 618), and EMS 601 for a house fire in Sterling Park. Since all the Sterling Units, and BC601, were together at FS 611 for dinner most of the assignment arrived on scene quickly. BC601 arrived to find a single family home with fire through the roof. Engine 618, the first arriving engine, began fire attack. Tower 611 arrived shortly after and make access for the attack crews and searched the home to ensure that all occupants were out. The fire was quickly extinguished, but units remained on scene for a few more hours doing extensive overhaul to ensue that the fire was completely out.

Photos by: David Payne

Many personnel from the area went to work throughout the incident

Engine 618 and Tower 611

More photos available HERE.

At 6pm Crew 3 relieved the LCFR career staff on Engines 611, 618, and Tower 611 as rain swept through the area. While the weather kept crews in the area busy Sterling was fairly quiet, with Engine 611 getting dispatched for an investigation of smoke in the area around 6:30. The weather cleared overnight, and Engine 611 was out again at 12:30am for an auto accident call. The shift ended much like it started, with Engine 611 dispatched just before 5:30am for a broken water main. The career staff, back on duty at 6am, relieved the volunteer crew on the scene.

On Saturday morning the men and women of the SVFC headed to Leesburg to spend the day at the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Training Academy. Various scenarios at the burn building were planned. While training happens every day at SVFC it’s usually smaller groups from 2-15 people. This opportunity for this many folks to train together, in the more realistic environment of the burn building, is not one that comes along often.

The day started with safety checks, briefing the plan for the day, and training crew assignments. The day consisted of scenarios (house fire or apartment fire, for example), and crews rotated throughout so by the end of the day they had performed many roles and were required to perform many different skills. Each scenario covered the basics of hose line advancement, search and rescue, ladder placement, and many other skills needed on the fireground. Command also added various obstacles (no entry from the ground level, etc.) to force crews to adapt and overcome, using more advanced skills, and not be complacent.

Our associate members, whose duties do not include firefighting but primarily focus on administrative and support roles, were also out in force. They staffed the canteen unit, keeping operational crews hydrated and fed. It also allowed some of them to see first hand what the operational folks do in the field.

At the end of the day folks were tired and sore, but had a great day working together to improve their skills and provide better service to the Sterling community.

Special thanks to our partners at Ashburn Volunteer Fire & Rescue for staffing the Sterling Park station and helping to staff the burn building, allowing more SVFC members to participate in the drills. Thanks also to the staff at the training academy for their support.

Photos by Associates Anand Kumar and Chris Newcomer:

Crews gather for the morning briefing

Quint 624 arrives on scene for a house fire

Engine 611 prepares to enter the structure

A victim is rescued

The truck crew makes entry to the apartment while the engine crew prepares to enter

Unit officers debrief with command

The canteen stands ready to help

Just after 7pm on Tuesday evening Engine and Chief 611, and Safety Officer 618, along with Rescue 615 and Ambulance 6251 (SVRS), Medic and Rescue 439 (Reston), and EMS 601 (LCFR), were dispatched for an auto accident with entrapment on Harry Byrd Highway in Sterling. Tower 611 added on to the call to provide manpower for Rescue 615. Units arrived on scene to find a pickup truck on it’s side with the driver still inside. Arriving units quickly assessed the occupant while others began to stabilize the vehicle and prepare for extrication. Once these tasks were done the roof was quickly removed and the driver was further evaluated, treated, and transported to the hospital.

Our career staff had quite a busy day yesterday, spending much of the day in Leesburg at a house fire. Before their shift ended they responded to an industrial accident in Sterling. SVFC Duty Crew 4 took over at 6pm and responded to the plane crash in Herndon early this morning.

Photo by: Steve Brylski

Post by: Corey Burke

Companies in the first battalion were alerted this morning for an auto accident with person reported trapped. Engine 623, Medic 623-1, Ambulance 623-1 (Moorefield), Rescue Squad 615 (SVRS), Safety 600 & Battalion 601 (LCFR) were on the call. Tower Ladder 611 responded as supplemental staffing for the Rescue. Engine 623 arrived with the Medic Unit to find a patient trapped in their vehicle after a T-Bone style crash. Tower Ladder 611 and Rescue Squad 615 arrived on scene, made contact Engine 623 who had command, and quickly formulated an Extrication Plan. A helicopter was requested and Aircare 1 advised they had a 10 minute ETA. Crews quickly stabilized the vehicle and ensured there were no other hidden hazards. With multiple hydraulic tools in use crews removed the roof and then the driver side doors. With the driver side completely removed, the Medic and Ambulance crews were easily able to remove the patient without any further injury. They were placed on a back board, splinted, immobilized and loaded in the Medic unit to continue treatment and await the arrival of the helicopter. Aircare 1 arrived and Medic 623-1 transferred care to them. The patient was flown to the local trauma center for further evaluation. Companies packed up and returned to service.

Photos by: John Gregory

TL 611 on the scene

Aircare 1 on the scene

Vehicle after extrication

The SVFC would like to thank all those that came out to run, help, support, and participated in any way with our race today. We always enjoy seeing everybody, and hope you all have a fun (and safe) holiday weekend. Thank you for making us a part of it.

Master Runner and special guest Susan Loken, with firefighters Mike Blinn, Andrew Engelken, Andrew Snow, and John Wallace. Susan ran the 10K and the firefighters ran the fun run in their turnout gear.

See more photos from the event by clicking HERE.

As storms rolled through the area Crew 3 relieved the LCFR Career Staff at 6pm and began equipment checks and other preparations for their 12 hour shift. At 6:12 Engine 618 was dispatched for an auto accident on Route 7. At 6:15 Engine 611 was dispatched for an auto accident, but was quickly placed in service by the Sheriff’s Office units on scene. Just before 6:30 Engine and Tower 611 were dispatched to Fairfax County for a house fire and then placed in service right away. A few minutes later Engine 611 was alerted for the same house fire, along with Tankers 618, 623 (Moorefield) and 601 (Leesburg Fire), and Battalion 601. Engine 611 was assigned to the Rapid Intervention Team, standing by in case crews required emergency assistance. At 6:37 Engine 618 was dispatched to Lowes Island for a medical call. While returning from that call they came upon an auto accident on Algonkian Parkway. At 7:02 Safety Officer 618 was dispatched to an auto accident with patients trapped on the Dulles Greenway in Ashburn, along with units from Ashburn and Dulles Airport. At 7:08 Engine 618 was dispatched to another medical emergency. The remaining 11 hours of Crew 3′s shift were quiet, with no more calls for service.

Our sister organization, the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, will host their annual open house this Saturday, May 18th. The event will be held in the Dulles Town Center mall from 12-3pm. Visit their site for further details by clicking HERE.