Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

Earlier in the year the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and our sister organization, the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad teamed up for a friendly competition against the volunteers at Asburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue. The group who donated the most blood to the Inova Blood Donor Services would be the winner of “Lead the Bleed 2009″. Of course the real winners are those folks who receive the donated blood. Sterling Fire and Sterling Rescue donated a total of 48 units to this worthy cause and were awarded a certificate and will get to display a trophy (at least until next years challenge) in the station.

President Short and Associate Newcomer (our coordinator) receive the award from Robyn Kaplan of Inova Blood Donor Services

(If you live in Sterling)

Shortly after midnight on the morning of Tuesday, October 27th Engine 623 (Moorefield) was alerted for a fire alarm at a nearby hotel. Soon after arrival Engine 623 reported heavy smoke in a stairwell and asked for the full structure fire assignment to be dispatched. This brought Engine and Tower 611 and Tanker 618 from Sterling, Engine 606 (Ashburn), TowerLadder 619 (South Riding), Ambulance 623 (Moorefield) and Battalion Chief 602 (LCFR). Deputy Chief 611 responded from Sterling as a command officer, and Assistant Chief and Truck 606 also responded. Engine 623 began attacking the fire, and were soon assisted by Ambulance 623 and TowerLadder 611. The remaining units assisted with evacuation of the occupants and checked the building for fire extension and smoke hazards. Come from home volunteers staffed Wagon 611 in Sterling, and Engine 439 and TowerLadder 436 from Fairfax were transferred to provide protection to the community while units operated in Ashburn.

After a quiet Thursday evening of checking out equipment, dinner, and training the men and women of crew 5 were alerted for a structure fire call at 11pm. The call was for a building fire in the area of Route 7 and Dranesville road. That intersection is in Fairfax County so they handled the initial call and asked for Engines 611 and 618 for mutual aid. Engine 611 and Wagon 611 (from station 18) responded along with Engine, Medic, and Rescue 439, Engine 404, Truck 425, TowerLadder 436, and a command assignment from Fairfax. Due to the closeness on the call TowerLadder 611 added on, and Captain 611 responded as a command officer. Additional information indicated that the McDonald’s restaurant had smoke coming from the roof. Units arrived on scene and reported a strong electrical odor near the restaurant. Further investigation revealed that there was some sort of utility fire underneath the parking lot behind the structure. Crews from Fairfax, including HazMat 440, and Loudoun worked together to identify and mitigate the hazard. The scene was turned over to Dominion Virginia Power and units returned to service.

At 1:30am Engine 611, Wagon 611 (from station 18), Engines 623 (Moorefield) and 439 (Fairfax/Reston), TowerLadders 611 and 606 (Ashburn VFRD), Rescue 439, Ambulances 625 and 615 (Sterling Rescue), Captain 611, and Battalion 602 (LCFR) were alerted for a structure fire at a retirement community. A call was received from a resident stating the building was on fire while the alarm company reported a fire alarm. Truck 606 (Ashburn) and Rescue 615 (Sterling Rescue, staffed by members of Sterling Fire) also responded to the call. Engine 611 arrived on scene first and began investigating. They found a haze of smoke in the building. Further investigation by Engine 611 and TowerLadder 611 identified the source of the smoke as burned food in an apartment. While EMS units checked out some of the residents command began to release some fire units while remaining units began smoke removal.

TowerLadder 611 at McDonald’s

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank all those who came out to visit us on Saturday, October 10th, for our open house. We hope you enjoyed the parade, Sterlingfest, and visiting with us as much as we enjoy visiting with you.

Lineup

Our members

Photos by: John Bischoff

One of our members sent us this photo:

Photo by: Danny Dales

Many will recognize the tower ladder as our own TowerLadder 11, sold to the Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department and still answering calls.

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, and the National Fire Protection Association are taking part in Fire Prevention Week from October 4th-10th. This weeks theme is Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned, and focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires. Click on the banner above for more from the NFPA, visit the US Fire Administrations Home Fire Prevention site, visit FireSafety.gov, watch for SVFC and LCFR visiting schools, or visit us at our open house during Sterlingfest this Saturday from 10am to 4pm (see above for details).