Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

Interested in becoming part of our family? Come up for our orientation session on Monday September 22nd at 7pm at fire station 18 (46700 Middlefield Drive). E-mail membership@sterlingfire.org or click the “JOIN SVFC!” button to the right for more info.

Aug 24 - Crew 4 had an unusually busy Sunday shift starting early at 8:00 am with a medical assist and finishing up more than 15 calls later with a mulch fire after 1:00 am. Intermixed between all the action, the crew was able to squeeze in some interesting training on aerial stokes basket rescues, hose streams, and placing in service a flying standpipe. Not discounting any of this, the highlight of the shift was easily the cardiac arrest at around 10:00pm.

The call was dispatched while Engine 618 was just clearing from a fire alarm. Ambulance 25, who was also having a very busy day, was out of position and on the road clearing from another call. Medic 6 from Ashburn was added to the dispatch to complete the advanced life support assignment. SERV618 also responded on the call from the station with additional on-duty staff.

SERV18 was first to arrive on the scene closely followed by Engine 618. Sterling Fire was able to get 8 volunteer EMT’s and First Responders to the patient in less than 6 minutes from dispatch. Luckily, a family member had been trained in CPR and was helping out the patient prior to Crew 4’s arrival. This was a key factor to the successful outcome of this call.

EMT’s from Crew 4 assessed the patient and took over CPR efforts while administering the automatic external defibrillator. The first shock was delivered just as Ambulance 25 arrived on the scene. CPR continued and a second shock was administered shortly after the arrival of Medic 6. As the medic made his initial assessment of the patient, she began to breathe on her own and her pulse had returned.

The patient was quickly transferred to the medic unit and prepared for transport. While en route to the hospital, the medic reported that the patient’s condition was slowly improving and that she was awake and complaining that her chest hurt. These were all good signs.

Responders from the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue worked together with the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company to take over the care started by a quick acting family member resulting in a truly life-saving effort. Good job to all.

Shortly after clearing a fire at Seneca Middle school, units from Sterling and Ashburn were dispatched to Route 28 at Waxpool road for the auto accident with reports of one trapped. Loudoun County Battalion Chief (as well as former member and long time friend to the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company) Roger Martin, returning to quarters from the box was literally passing the scene as the call was being dispatched. The Chief marked on scene within moments, reporting one vehicle overturned with one occupant trapped, and multiple other patients requiring attention.

Engine 611 (LCFR staffed) and Rescue Squad 615 (SVFC staffed) arrived on the scene moments later, securing hazards, stabilizing the vehicle, deploying a protective hand line and rapidly extricating the patient from the pickup truck. Once removed patient care was transferred to the extremely talented LCFR medic from 23. The squad then took up as Engine 611 established a landing zone for Aircare and Medstar helicopters arriving the transport 2 of the 3 patients to a local trauma center.

The extremely professional manner in which this incident was handled is a testament to the talent and dedication of both the paid and volunteer personnel on scene, and proof that a combination system can continue to work in Loudoun county.

August 9, 2008 - Crew 7 responded to a call for an investigation in the area of Glenn Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered a strong smell of chlorine and a citizen directed the crews to an area believed to have some spilled powder. This call was upgraded to a hazardous material response with the addition of LCFR HazMat units from South Riding Station 19, two battalion chiefs, a safety officer and additional units from Sterling Volunteer Fire to include HazMat Support 18.

These units worked together to plan an entry to attempt to indentify the spilled powder and make an assessment on the hazards. Ultimately, the materials were detemrined to be safe and inert, however the call demonstrated that the combined company’s HazMat training has paid off as everything went smoothly.

Photos are of members of Sterling Volunteer Fire Crew 7 performing decontamination and cleanup on the entry team from South Riding’s HazMat 19 crew.

Photo Credit: Lt. George Short

On the evening of July 17th, the Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management hosted their Spring Graduation Ceremony. On this evening, Sterling Fire graduated 2 firefighter one students, 2 firefighter two students, 3 basic emergency medical technicians, 1 enhanced emergency medical technician, and 2 command school graduates.

At approximately 4:30am on Thursday morning, July 17, a Sterling man struck a large tree while driving his vehicle on Potomac View Road. Duty Crew 1 on Engine 18 responded and quickly upgraded the response after they arrived on scene to find the driver trapped severely inside the heavily damaged car. The duty chief, additional ambulances and the heavy rescue squad from Sterling Volunteer Rescue were added to the call.

The crew on Engine made quick work of cutting back the mangled car and gained access to the patient about the time the heavy rescue arrived on scene and started to set up. Unfortunately, the paramedics on scene determined that the patient had succumbed to the injuries.

The accident scene was turned over the Sheriffs Department and their accident reconstruction team.

Sunday was a quiet day in Sterling, which is a good thing for those we serve. It also allowed Crew 5 to spend some time training. The crew of Engine 618 attended a leadership seminar at station 18, and the crews from Engine 611 and TowerLadder 611 went to Park View High School to train new members on the operation of the tower bucket and to help other members keep their skills fresh.

TL611 flowing water

E611 supplying TL611

Crew 4 broke up the doldroms of Sunday afternoon haricuts in the fire station with a call to assist the Sheriffs Office with a vehicle into a structure. After arriving on scene, they discovered a small car that had run up over the curb and into the patio doors of a ground floor apartment. Luckily, the occupant was out walking her dogs at the time and no one was injured. The lads from Crew 4 checked the intergrity of structure and closed up the hole with some plastic after the car was towed away. Another job done.

Just before 4:00am on Monday morning Engine 618 was alerted for a car fire on Sandstone Square. They arrived to find a burning car parked between two other cars. The driver charged the line and the engine officer protected the other cars while the firefighters geared up to attack the burning car directly. The driver was able to capture a few photos once the water was flowing.

Photos by: Tech Tim Duckworth

At approximately 3:15pm on Saturday, June 28th units from Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Hamilton, and Loudoun County Fire Rescue were alerted for a house fire in Leesburg. Wagon 618 and Chief 611 responded from Cascades. Units from Leesburg arrived on scene and reported heavy fire showing. The first units found heavy fire in the rear of the home and began to attack the fire there while other units prepared to make an interior attack. Due to fire conditions in the rear and danger to surrounding structures units were pulled from the structure and an exterior attack was initiated. A second alarm was requested, bringing Wagon 611 from Sterling Park. More details and pictures can be found here.

The crew from W618 awaiting an assignment from command