Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

Once again the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, with help from the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Cascades community, hosted a successful race on Saturday, May 24th. The weather was great, and we had the largest turnout yet, with 1102 runners participating. Feedback from participants and the community has been positive, and the members of the company are thrilled with the success of the race. It also provided a unique opportunity for training. The event was treated as a major incident and the resources were brought in to handle it. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue brought in their mobile command post and it was staffed with career and volunteer personnel who managed the race. This allowed everybody to better understand how a large scale incident works in the real world and better prepared us for facing the real thing, should it ever be needed.

For more details about the race and results, visit Run Washington here.

Pre race coverage and information about the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company’s involvement visit the Cascades Connection here.

A post race overview is available from the Loudoun Easterner here.

Sunday, May 25 – Duty Crew 3 ended their shift with a last minute call for a townhouse fire at 0620hrs. The previous night homeowner noticed that his bathroom exhaust vent fan had overheated and caught fire. He attempted to exitinghish the fire with his home extinguisher. The homeowner thought that this worked and went to bed. When he woke up, he had smoke in his house and a small amount of fire in the walls of his bathroom.

The first arriving units from Sterling discovered a moderate amount of smoke coming from the roof and eaves. Once inside, they found fire in the attic and in all of the walls around the bathroom. A little bit of opening the walls and pulling some ceilings made putting the fire out easy work for the hose crew.

The fan appeared have been extinguished by the home owner the night before but he did not get the deeper seated fire. This is an example of why it is always important to call the fire department to let us check these things out for you. It is not trouble for us and saves the homeowner a lot in the end.

Just before 11pm on Friday May 23 units from Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department were alerted for a structure fire at Sully Elementary School. Units arrived quickly from Station 11 and reported fire visible. Further investigation showed that fire was in Discovery Park, the new playground behind the building. Units worked to contain and extinguish the fire. It was contained to about a 20×20 foot area of the park with no damage to the school building.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue held its annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 22nd, to honor those who have provided service throughout the county. Several members of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company were recognized for their commitment and accomplishments over the years. The following individuals received awards:

Leadership Award:
Jon Starling

Loudoun County Fire and EMS Hall of Fame Inductee:
Jim Cunningham

35 Years of Service:
Wayne Blake

20 Years of Service:
John Anderson

15 Years of Service:
Dave Fierstein
Julian Haddad
Jennifer Pye
George Short

10 Years of Service:
Nora Benham
Faith Grant
Virginia Grant
Juan Grimaldi
Janice Richardson
Jeremy Sorenson
Jodie Thomas
Judy Thomas
Bob Weber
Jason Wengel
Jeremy Whelpley

5 Years of Service:
Patti Buchanan-Coullahan
Danny Dales
Kyle Davis
Matthew Duckwitz
Tim Duckworth
Steve Fruchtman
Leo Genovese
Dave Goody
Chris Howley
John Javelle
Bryan Knight
Nate Larkin
Scott Newcomer
Tom Oliverez
Chris Oullette
Chris Poplar
Kelly Poplar
Tim Smith
James Wagner

(l-r) John Anderson, Bob Weber, Wayne Blake, Jon Starling, Jim Cunningham, David Fierstien, Julian Haddad, Danny Dales, Bryan Knight

Photo by: Tamika Segura, SVRS

At 07:45pm on Wednesday units from Sterling, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties were alerted for a house fire on Brockman lane. Engine 618 and Medic 25 responded from Cascades, Engine and Truck 611 responded from Sterling Park. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief 602 responded from Purcellville. Engine and Rescue 439, Engine 404 were dispatched from Fairfax county. Additionally Assistant Chief 11, Chief 11, Wagon 618, and Canteen 611 responded from Sterling, and Battalion 401, EMS 401 and Safety Officer 402 responded from Fairfax county. Units arrived to find smoke showing from the outside of the structure. An interior attack was initiated by units from Sterling and Fairfax. The fire was quickly knocked down and the structure was searched to make sure that nobody was still inside. Units began to return to service in approximately 45 minutes, and others remained on scene longer to assist with cleanup and fire investigators. There were no injuries to civilians or fire department personnel. Once again volunteers from Sterling and career staff from Fairfax worked together safely, efficiently, and effectively to serve the public.

Early Sunday morning units from Sterling were alerted for an auto accident on northbound Route 28. The standard dispatch for a limited access highway sends units to the area from both directions, so this call brought Engine 611 and an EMS unit from station 15 from the south, and Engine 618 and an EMS unit from station 25 from the north. Due to the nature of the road TECH25 (a technical rescue unit, running in place of Sqad 15) responded as well. Engine 611 and units from station 15 arrived to find a two vehicle accident spread over a large area. Engine 611 established command and had units from station 18/25 continue in due to the size of the area the incident covered. Members of Sterling Fire and Sterling Rescue began to evaluate two patients, and also began to use hydraulic tools to free one of the patients. Due to the nature of the injuries command requested a second Advanced Live Support unit, bringing a medic unit from station 23 in Ashburn. All the victims were treated and transported to local hospitals and Sterling Fire remained on scene working with Virginia State Police to secure the scene and reopen the road.

Also during the previous 24 hours members from Sterling had responded to two commercial structure fires, in Safeway in Sterling and Costco in Sterling, as well as fire alarms, auto accidents, and EMS assists.

Engines 618 and 611 blocking traffic
Photo by: Jonathan Hickman

The apparatus committee just returned from the Smeal Factory in Nebraska where they completed the final inspection of Quint 18. The truck still needs some of its striping and decals put on as well as all of the equipment mounted but is largely ready to go. This 100 foot ladder truck replaces the old 75 foot Quint 18.

***UPDATE*** Quint 18 in now at Fire Station 18 in Sterling (May 13). It is scheduled for its public unveiling on May 24th at the Cascades Fire Chase 10K run.

(Photo Credit: Johnny Bischoff)