Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

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, August 21 the career staff from station 11 had the opportunity to attend training in Fairfax County. The members of SVFC staffed Engine and Truck 611 during the day. The crews spent the day running calls, including fire alarms, EMS calls, and a car fire. They were also able to watch America’s 9/11 Ride as they passed through the area. Toward the end of the day there was an auto accident with entrapment at Countryside Boulevard and Route 7, which was handled by career staff from station 18 in Cascades and the Rescue and EMS units from SVRS. During this incident there was a second accident, also on Route 7, with a patient pinned. Engine 611 and Rescue Squad 439 from Fairfax were dispatched. Engine 611 arrived on the scene and was able to quickly free the patient and transfer them to a waiting ambulance.

Update: More information about the training is available here.

Just before 5:30am on Wednesday Engines 611 and 623, and Ambulance 615 and Medic 623 were alerted for an auto accident on Route 28 near Sterling Boulevard. Two assignments were dispatched because Route 28 is a limited access highway. It was initially reported that there were four cars involved. While units were responding Virginia State Police advised that there was a person trapped, so Rescue 615 and Chief 611 were dispatched. Rescue 615 and Truck 611, which also responded to assist with manpower, were staffed by mixed crews of SVFC volunteers and LCFR career staff. Engine 623 arrived and confirmed that there was someone still trapped in the vehicle and established command. A total of 5 patients were found and command requested two additional Basic Life Support and one additional Advanced Life Support units, bringing two more units from Sterling and one more from Ashburn. They also pre-alerted a helicopter in anticipation of flying one of the patients. Crews continued to treat patients as the extrication continued. Aircare 3 arrived shortly after extrication to transport one patient while the remaining patients were treated on the scene or transported by ground to the appropriate medical facilities.

The Loudoun County Fire-Rescue System and the Loudoun Career Fire Fighters Association are pleased to announce their participation in the 61st annual Toys for Tots Campaign, sponsored by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. “The Loudoun County Fire-Rescue System is proud to participate in this wonderful program for the fourth consecutive year,” commented Chief of the Department Joseph E. Pozzo. “Your generosity will help put a smile on the face of a needy or sick child this holiday season.”

The Toys for Tots Campaign began in 1947 when a group of U.S. Marine Reservists collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children in the Los Angeles area. Since then, the Marines have distributed over 370 million toys to more than 173 million needy children. In 2007, the fire and rescue departments of the National Capital Region collected 62,000 toys, including over 10,000 in Loudoun County.

>From November 18 through December 19, fire and rescue stations throughout the county will be collecting new, unwrapped toys. Toys that resemble weapons or could be used as a weapon (e.g., toy guns, knives, etc.) will not be accepted. Information about making monetary donations is available online from the Toys for Tots organization at http://toysfortots.org/donate/default.asp.

More information about the campaign is available online at www.toysfortots.org or by contacting the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management’s Toys for Tots Coordinator, Lieutenant Nicole Hankin, at 703-737-8011.

The following locations will serve as collection sites from November 18 until December 19:

• Administrative Offices: 803 Sycolin Road, Leesburg
• Training Center: 16600 Courage Court, Leesburg
• Station 2: 200 North Maple Avenue, Purcellville
• Station 3: 910 West Washington Street, Middleburg
• Station 4: 4 Main Street, Round Hill
• Stations 5 & 17: 39077 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton
• Station 6: 20688 Ashburn Road, Ashburn
• Station 7: 39459 John Mosby Highway, Aldie
• Station 8: 36560 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont
• Station 9: 24300 Gum Spring Road, Arcola
• Station 10: 42367 Lucketts Road, Lucketts
• Stations 11 & 15: 104 Commerce Street, Sterling
• Station 12: 12837 Berlin Turnpike, Lovettsville
• Station 13: 143 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg
• Station 14: 211 South 20th Street, Purcellville
• Station 16: 11762 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro
• Stations 18 & 25: 46700 Middlefield Drive, Sterling
• Station 19: 43216 Defender Drive, South Riding
• Station 20: 61 Plaza Street, NE, Leesburg
• Station 23: 21730 Red Rum Drive, #117, Ashburn

Just after 5pm on Thursday, October 30th units from Sterling and Ashburn responded to a reported kitchen fire in Cascades. Career staff from Engines 618 and 611 and (Quint 618 running as) Truck 611 responded and found a working kitchen fire. You can read more (and see pictures) here. Sterling volunteers responded with an additional engine, Wagon 611, but quickly returned to service to protect the rest of Sterling, while other units mopped up. Fairfax Engine 439 filled station 18 until a volunteer crew released them.

September 19 1650hrs: The Day Crew at Station 11 was dispatched to investigate a suspicious substance found near the Holiday Inn. After some initial tests, the substance was thought to be worth a serious looking at. The area was roped off and Sterling Firefighters (ENG611 and HazMat Support 618) were joined by Loudoun Sheriffs Deputies, Sterling Rescue and HazMat crews from Loudoun (South Riding) and Dulles Airport. Ultimately, the material was determined not to pose a hazard and all units returned to service.

Photos: David Short

Crews from HazMat 619, Dulles Airport and Engine 611

Incident Command Post, Battalion 601

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.

On April 18th, the day crews from both Stations 11 and 18 worked together to make a quick stop on a basement fire in the Countryside neighborhood.