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On January 25th, the Wheaton Rescue Squad was kept very busy, responding to multiple box alarms and car accidents.  Noteworthy was a call in 25′s area for a car on its side with its driver trapped.  Rescue Squad 742 arrived on scene to find the truck crew stabilizing the vehicle.  Icy and snowy conditions made for a very tricky and interesting tie back.  Once stabilization was established, extrication of the driver occurred and was evaluated by medical crews on the scene.

A few calls later, the box tones alerted RS742 to company 21′s area for the house fire.  Once on Veirs Mill Rd, a column of smoke was visible in the night sky.  RS742 arrived third on scene to find fire showing, the crew began search, utility control and assisted in extinguishment of the fire primarily contained to the attic.  RS742 helped in extensive overhaul and was in service 3 hours after the dispatch time.

RS742: FFIII Ruphin Nguelie, FFIII Stefhan Dassoulas, FFII RJ Samaroo, FFII Mark Reddish, FFII Andrew Jacobs, FFII Ken Lacayo

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On Wednesday, December 26th at 1945 hours, Rescue Company 2 was alerted to the collision with one overturned at Newport Mill and Veirs Mill Road. Upon arrival, it was confirmed one occupant trapped. The Squad crew worked quickly to build a box crib and stabilize the vehicle. Once stabilized, the passenger side was completely removed to extricate the patient. Care was transferred to an awaiting Medic 742 and the patient transported to a local hospital.

About an hour later, Rescue Company 2 units were dispatched to Claridge and Veirs Mill for the report of another collision. Upon arrival Rescue Squad 742 confirmed one heavily pinned after the T-bone collision with a construction van. It took some outside the box thinking in order to successfully extricate the driver since the two vehicles were crushed together. The chains and come-a-long were used to spin the smaller vehicle and dislodge the car from the van. Once enough space was created, the Squad crew went to work, cutting and spreading the car to free the driver. Once extricated, care was transferred to Medic 742 and the driver was transported to a local hospital.

C742C: D/C Jacob Deglopper

RS742: D/C Mark Dempsey, Lt. Brett Russell, FFII Stefhan Dassoulas, FFPM Aryeh Singer

M742: Capt Longo (DFRS), Lt John Calinger

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Around 2030 hours on Sunday October 28th, Rescue Squad 742 was dispatched for the vehicle on its side on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway between Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road.  Units from Station 19 arrived to confirm one vehicle on its side with the driver trapped.  The squad crew arrived on scene, stabilized the vehicle with a tie-back and began to extricate the driver.  Plan A and Plan B failed to access the occupant of the vehicle, but quick thinking by the squad driver had the air system ready to go.  The chisel was used to cut through the roof and successfully extricate the driver.  Units cleaned up and were placed in service soon afterwards.

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Rescue Squad 742 Crew: Deputy Chief Jacob DeGlopper, FFII Stefhan Dassoulas, FFII RJ Samaroo, FFII Julio Deras, FFII Aryeh Singer

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Around 2230 hours on Friday October 12th, Rescue Squad 742 was dispatched for a report of one vehicle overturned with two occupants trapped at 355 and First St. in Rockville.  First arriving Engine 703 confirmed two trapped.  RS703 was just finishing up a detail at the time and was placed on the call, however, the officer in charge on RS742 jumped on the horn to tell Communications that the Wheaton squad was closer and had the squad continue on the call.  Squad 742 was the first arriving extrication piece on the scene.  RS742 stabilized the overturned vehicle via a tie-back, pulled tools, and had a well-coordinated plan with Squad 703 to extricate the driver and passenger from the vehicle.  Units cleaned up and were placed in service soon thereafter.

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Rescue Squad 742 Crew: Captain Todd Sniffin, FFII Stefhan Dassoulas, FFII Mark Reddish, FFII Julio Deras

On Saturday November 10th, Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad will host a training class that focuses on the series of events that lead to the LODD of Firefighter Mark Falkenhan from Baltimore County Fire Department in January of 2011. ATF Fire Protection Engineer Adam St. John will present the ATF computer fire modeling video, live fire demonstration and a series of fire testing videos. Fire dynamics topics to be discussed include ventilation flowpaths, basement fire dynamics, ventilation limited fires and flashover. This class will be similar to the Montgomery County COPDI class taught in September 2012.

Hosted in Rescue 2’s apparatus bays at 1930, November 10th.  ALL are invited.

Questions? Email Adam.St.John@atf.gov.

The fire modeling video can be previewed here.

The ATF Engineering Analysis Report can be viewed here.

At around 0630 hours on the morning of Sunday, August 26, Rescue Squad 742 and Company 24 units were dispatched to the 600 block of Randolph Road for the report of a personal injury collision. Company 24 arrived on scene first and found a single SUV off the road on its side with the sole occupant trapped. Rescue Squad 742 arrived on scene less than a minute later and immediately began stabilizing the vehicle with step chocks and Paratech struts before using chains and a cable come-along to tie back to the Engine and ensure the vehicle could not move. They then pulled Hurst hydraulic rescue tools and lights and quickly cut the posts attaching the roof to the vehicle. With the roof pulled back, the driver was able to be removed from the vehicle and evaluated by the ambulance crew. Units packed up their tools and returned to service a short time later.

Rescue Squad 742 Crew: Lt. Adam St. John, MFF Dave Shaklan, FFIII Matt Jorge, FFII Yaakov Bier

At around 2300 hours on the evening of Tuesday, August 21, 2012, Montgomery County Emergency Communications filled the assignment for a house fire in Company 24’s area in the 13100 block of New Hampshire Avenue. First arriving units reported smoke on both floors and fire in the upstairs. Rescue Squad 742 arrived on scene and found electric wires broken away from the residence and arcing on side Delta of the structure and smoke showing from the windows throughout the house. They made entry and quickly completed a primary search of the smoke-filled building, which contained a doctor’s office on the first floor and residence on the second floor. The fire was mostly found in the bedrooms on the second floor. The Squad crew then carried out a secondary search and shut off electricity to the structure. At the same time, Medic 742B arrived on scene and established a Rehab sector, ensuring that all firefighters on the fireground were healthy after extinguishing the fire. Units returned to service about an hour later.

Rescue Squad 742: Lt. Brett Russell, FFIII Ruphin Nguelie, FFIII Matt Jorge, FFII RJ Samaroo

Medic 742B: PMIC Brittany Galladora, EMT-I Mike Kaufmann, EMT Mike Belan, EMT Anthony Oliver