Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

On Saurday, Jan 21st the men and women of SVFC, friends, family, and guests gathered in Landsdowne for the 45th annual Officer Installation Banquet. The entire SVFC family gathered to celebrate another year, recognize members for their service and friends and family for their support, and to officially swear in the appointed and elected officers for the upcoming year. After the opening remarks by President David Short there was a special presentation from State Senator Mark Herring, who read a proclamation issued by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell commending the SVFC for 45 years of service. He then read a proclamation from the Virginia State Senate and House of Representatives recognizing the life and service of Alan “Big Al” Dutton. Loudoun County Citizen of the Year and our very own chaplain, Charlie Grant, offered a blessing before the meal. Keynote speaker Chief Billy Goldfeder addressed those gathered about firefighter safety and keeping yourself safe for your loved ones. After that Colonel Charles D. Donnell, representing President Obama, read a letter from President Obama recognizing SVFC for 45 years of service. 2011 Chief Jon Starling recognized the operational Members of the Year for 2011. Recruit Firefighter of the year was awarded to RFF Will Ermini, Firefighter of the year to FF Mike Salazar, and Officer of the Year was awarded to Captain Gary Lam. President Short awarded Dee Ramsey Associate of the Year. Loudoun County Chief Keith Brower administered the oath of office to the 2012 officers. The night continued with music and dancing.

The SVFC would like to specially recognize the men and women of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company for staffing Engines 611, 618, Tower 611, and the command unit, protecting the citizens of Sterling while the SVFC members took the night off.

You can view our annual video presentation HERE.

On Monday morning just after 5am Engine 611 was alerted along with Engine 623 (Moorefield), Engine 303 (Dulles Airport), Engine 619 (South Riding), Towers 619 (South Riding), Tower 436 (Fairfax), Truck 606 (Ashburn), Ambulance 623 (Moorefield), Battalion 603 (Loudoun County), and Captain 606 (Ashburn), for a structure fire at a local business. The caller reported that the roof was on fire. Engine 623 arrived on the scene with nothing showing and advised they were doing a split lay from the entrance to the building. Engine 619 completed the hose lay. Engine 623 found fire in the roof area and began to extinguish from below while Tower 619 and Truck 606 laddered the roof. Units continued searching from above and below finding occasional hidden fire and extinguishing it. Once the fire was declared out units began to pack up equipment, including over 1000 feet of 4-inch supply line, and assisted the fire marshal with the investigation.

The Loudoun Times has recognized our very own “Chaplain Charlie” as their Citizen of the Year. Charlie has served the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, and the citizens of Loudoun, in so many ways that it took a book to cover only part of them. We cannot thank Charlie enough for his service, and we’re glad to see that others appriciate him as well. You can read the article HERE, or get a copy of his book HERE.

The men and women of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company wish you and yours a safe any happy holiday season. We hope you don’t need our services, but we (along with our partners from LCFR) will be ready to respond throughout the holiday season. To help keep you and your family safe please keep the following in mind:

• Keep all live trees sufficiently watered
• Do not overload electrical outlets, and make sure your lights are in good working order
• Don’t block exits with holiday decorations or other items
• If you use candles put them in a stable holder in a safe place, and never leave them unattended

Visit the United States Fire Administration page for more Holiday Safety Tips and also for Winter Safety Tips.

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company held elections at their General Membership Meeting on Monday, December 5th. The results are as follows:

Fire Chief: Mickey Buchanan
President: David Short
Vice President: Al Pacifico
Secretary: Andy Gode
Treasurer: Bill Graham
BOD: Andy Brown, Jeff Brown, Berl Jones, Kevin Makowski

For the 5th year Loudoun County Fire Rescue will be participating in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. Both stations 611 and 618, and all stations within the county fire rescue system, will be drop off points. The campaign runs from November 29th until December 20th.Toys for Tots accepts only new and unwrapped toys. Toys should be for the ages of 1-15. For further questions please follow the link above to the Loudoun County Toys for Tots Foundation page, or click on the logo for the national Toys for Tots page.

Just after lunch on Saturday Engine 618 was dispatched for an auto accident with a car fire just around the corner from the station. Often when cars fires are reported they’re not really on fire but overheated or smoking. Engine 618 arrived to find a car with the engine compartment on fire as a result of a collision. The crew quickly knocked down the fire and stabilized the other vehicle while the EMS crew from Sterling Rescue attended to the patients.

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and Loudoun County Fire Rescue wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Day is full of excitement, good food and fun times with family and friends. But the reality is that you are more likely to have a cooking fire on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year. The Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management reminds everyone to take a few minutes for safety so that your holiday is memorable for all the right reasons.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Keep the cooking range free of clutter. Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Do not pour water on a grease fire. Pouring water on a grease fire can cause it to spread. Instead, turn off the burner and put a lid on the fire.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and close the oven door.
• Never put a glass casserole or lid on the stove or over a burner. This could cause an explosion if it gets hot, sending dangerous shards of glass in all directions.
• Avoid using a turkey fryer. The National Fire Protection Association currently discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. Use of these fryers can lead to devastating injuries, burns and the loss of property.
• Never wear loose-fitting clothing when cooking. This type of clothing can ignite and catch fire. Wear short, or close fitting sleeves.
• Turn pot handles away so that young children cannot reach a cooking pot and accidentally get burned.
• Keep smoke alarms connected while cooking. Most home fire begin in the kitchen because food is left unattended.
• If you have a cooking fire, just get out then call 9-1-1! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

More information about fire safety is online at www.loudoun.gov/fire.

About 40 minutes after shift change Wagon 611, Engine 601 (on loan from Leesburg VFC, and Tower 611 were alerted along with Engine 611, Reserve Engine 606, Tower 606 (all from Ashburn VFRD), Rescue Squad 439 from Fairfax (Reston), Ambulance 625-3 (Sterling Rescue), and Battalion Chiefs 601 and 603 from LCFR for an apartment fire on Reserve Falls Terrace. Initial callers reported a deck on fire. Wagon 611 (from station 618) arrived on scene to report fire on two floors and spreading. They began an exterior attack to slow the spread. Battalion 601 arrived, established command and called for a second alarm. This brought units from throughout the area. While Wagon 611 was working on the exterior Engines 622, 601, and Tower 611 began preparations for an interior attack and searching for occupants. As the roof of the building became unstable units were pulled outside, returning after exterior efforts extinguished the bulk of the fire. Units continued to search for and extinguish fire that had spread throughout the building.

You can see video and photos from Sterling Fire by clicking HERE

Bystander video:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3:

Local news coverage HERE, HERE, and HERE