Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

Non-Twitter users (in the United States) can now follow @SterlingFire on their mobile phone without a Twitter account. Twitter has released a new feature called Fast Follow. Text “follow SterlingFire” to 40404 (standard text charges may apply, check with your carrier) and you should receive a text message when we’re dispatched for a call. Check the Twitter box to the left to see examples of the messages you will receive.

After a busier than usual Sunday morning with calls for fire alarms, broken water pipes, medical emergencies, and a car reported on fire, a powerful storm swept through the Sterling area in the afternoon. This brought numerous calls for wires and/or trees down, more fire alarms, and a river rescue. Crews also responded to an auto accident, a carbon monoxide alarm, an inside gas leak, and a fire reported in a townhouse. The call total for the day was around 25 calls. Compared to the average call volume of just under 10, with many of the calls coming back to back during the storm, Sunday was a busy day for Crew 6 and those that responded from home. You can see the complete list of calls on our Twitter feed.

One call for a tree down was actually for sub-station 618, our Sugarland Run station. A tree had fallen and was leaning against the rear of the structure. Members of Sterling Fire and Sterling Rescue worked together to remove the tree.

Photo by: David Payne

For the second night in a row Sterling Fire was dispatched to an auto accident with entrapment. Just before 9pm on Tuesday night while crews were training Engines 618 and 611, Captain 611, and Medic 625 and Rescue Squad 615 from Sterling Rescue, were dispatched for an auto accident with patients trapped. TowerLadder 611 also responded to the call for manpower. Captain 611 arrived on scene and reported two vehicles with patients still inside, requesting an additional EMS unit for the second patient. The crew from Engine 618 began securing the first vehicle and assisted with patient care. While the crew from Engine 611 started to secure the second vehicle it was decided to extricate the occupant. Engine 611 removed the door then assisted with patient care.

Photos by: Dave Payne

Engine 611 on the scene

Patient out of the vehicle

Door removed

Other vehicle

Just before 11pm on Monday night, as crews were preparing for bed, Engine 618 and Deputy Chief 611, along with Medic 625 and Rescue Squad 615 from Sterling Rescue, were dispatched for an auto accident with patients trapped. Serv 618, TowerLadder 611, and Chief 611 also responded to the call to provide additional manpower. Members from Sterling Fire were also able to staff Squad 615. DC 611 arrived on scene and reported two patients possibly trapped. An additional EMS unit was added for the second patient. The crew from Engine 618 began securing the vehicles and started extrication, as well as assisting with patient care. Squad 615 arrived on the scene and, along with TowerLadder 611, assisted in completing the extrication. The patients were transported to the hospital and Sterling Fire units began cleaning up and returning to service.

Photos by David Short:

At 7:47pm on Sunday, as crews were sitting down to dinner, Engine 618 was alerted, along with Captain 611, and Ambulance 625-2 from Sterling Rescue, for an auto accident with entrapment. Engine 611, TowerLadder 611, Rescue Squad 615, and Battalion Chief 601 (staffed by SVFC for the evening) responded as well due to the nature of the call. Units arrived on scene to find a vehicle off the roadway and on its roof with two occupants still inside. Crews from RS615 and TL611 worked together to stabilize the vehicle and remove the patients. Both occupants were removed from the vehicle within 10 minutes and transported via ground to a local trauma center.

Photos by: Dave Payne

On Tuesday afternoon the career staff from Fire Stations 611 and 618 were alerted for a house fire in Sterling Park. See their post here.

On Friday night, as Crew 2 was training, Engine 611 was dispatched, along with units from Dulles Airport and Fairfax County, to a truck fire at Route 28 and the Dulles Toll Road. Engine 611 arrived and began extinguishing the well involved tractor trailer, focusing first on the tractor. AC611 arrived and established command. Foam Unit 302 arrived from Dulles Airport and used their dual foam-flowing master streams to extinguish the remaining fire, focusing on the trailer. Engines 404 and 436 from Fairfax, and Engine 623 from Loudoun assisted with overhaul, making sure the fire was completely extinguished. Units also extinguished a grass fire about 200 yards away caused by the accident. A Hazardous Materials team from Dulles Airport also responded to help contain the remaining diesel fuel leaking from the ruptured tanks. This call once again demonstrated how career and volunteer firefighters representing four different agencies work together to protect the citizens of Northern Virginia.

Just before 7:30 pm on Tuesday, as crews were finishing dinner and preparing to train, Engine 611 and Ambulance 615 (Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad) were dispatched to Fairfax County for an auto fire. Dispatch reported that it was actually an auto accident with fire on Route 7 right at the county line, and that Fairfax was also responding. Captain 611 also responded to assist. Engine 611 arrived from the west side moments before Engine 439 arrived from the east to find a four car crash with one car fully involved and a second car burning. Fairfax had added a second engine, so Engine 404, Rescue and Medic 439, and Battalion 403 soon arrived fro the east. Engine crews began attacking the fire while the EMS crews attended to the patients. As Engine 611 was establishing a water supply the hydrant broke loose from the ground and began to lean over. Engine 618 was dispatched to provide a water supply for Engine 611. Two additional EMS units from Sterling Rescue were also called to the scene to assist with additional patients. Crews remained on scene for over an hour doing overhaul and clean up.

Photos provided by Dennis Haeberle and Jeff Brown

Two of four cars were burning

E611 stretching a hose line

Engine 618s supply line crossing Route 7 and the frontage road to a working hydrant

At 05:17 on Sunday morning, just before the end of a 23 hour shift, Engine and TowerLadder 611 were alerted for an inside gas leak between Sterling and Ashburn. About 10 minutes later Tanker 618, along with Reserve Engine 606, Engine 622, and TowerLadder 606 from Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Wagon 601 from Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, Rescue Squad 439 from Fairfax, Ambulance 615 from Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Battalion 602 from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue were alerted for a townhouse fire in Countryside. Captain 611 responded from Sterling, as did Quint 611 and Battalion 401 from Fairfax. As units were responding Engine and TowerLadder 611 were released from the inside gas leak call and responded to the townhouse fire. Tanker 618 arrived on scene and reported visible fire through the roof. After checking the rear of the structure the Tanker crew began an interior attack while Squad 439 began searching the structure to make sure all occupants were out safely. Arriving crews assisted in attacking the fire and checked neighboring townhomes to make sure that the fire wasn’t spreading. The fire was knocked down in about 10 minutes and crews continued to perform overhaul, making sure that the fire hadn’t spread and was completely extinguished. Chief 611 responded to assist command, and Canteen 611 also responded to provide refreshments to units operating in 10 degree weather.

Just after 11pm on Friday Engine 618, Captain 611, Ambulance 625, and Rescue 615 were alerted for an auto accident with entrapment on Route 7. TowerLadder 611 also responded to provide manpower, and Chief 615 responded. The Sheriffs Office arrived on scene and reported no entrapment. Squad 615 was placed in service while the rest of the assignment continued. Arriving units arrived on scene and began patient care and vehicle stabilization. Captain 611 established command and requested an additional BLS unit, bringing Trauma 625 to the scene. While EMS units attended to the patients the crew from Engine 618 assisted them, stabilized the vehicles to reduce any hazards from the damaged vehicle, and provided scene lighting.

Photos by: David Short

Engine 618 protecting the scene from oncoming traffic and providing scene lighting

Significant damage to the rear of one vehicle

Matching damage to the front of the other vehicle