Just after clearing the accident on Rhode Island Avenue, Rescue Squad 14 and Chief 14 (Fusco) were alerted to the area of Dover Lane and Elbrook Road for the house fire at 2110 hours. While units were enroute, Communications provided a correct address of 7504 Dover Lane. Engine Company 13 arrived and reported fire showing from the attic. Rescue Squad 14 arrived and was assigned Rapid Intervention. To aid in the safety of firefighters operating on the interior, the squad crew threw five ground ladders, cleared out numerous windows, and controlled the gas service at the meter. The fire was quickly knocked and Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 2203 hours.

At 2045 hours, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to Rhode Island Avenue and Fox Street for the motor vehicle accident with reports of one trapped. Engine Company 11 arrived first and confirmed they had one trapped on the service road adjacent to Rhode Island Avenue. Rescue Squad 14 arrived moments later and started stabilizing the vehicle. Next, the driver’s side doors, B-post, and the roof were removed to provide patient access. The driver was removed from the vehicle and transported to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 2108 hours.

Truck 14 was dispatched to the 5800 block of Baltimore Avenue for the building fire at 1755 hours. Units went on scene with smoke showing from a large vacant auto body shop. Fire was found in the building, and after an initial interior attack, Command ordered units switch to exterior operations. Truck 14 was assigned the RIT and was ready for service at 1953 hours. Photo courtesy of FirehouseGuy.

At 1640 hours, Truck 14 and Chief 14B (Kitchen) was alerted on the Street Alarm to the 6700 block of Village Park Drive for the report of someone pouring gasoline around his house. While enroute, Communications upgraded the assignment to a Box Alarm for the report of smoke coming from the residence. First arriving units went on the scene with smoke showing from the garage. Truck 14 arrived, threw ground ladders to side C of the townhouse, ventilated, and checked for extension. The fire was quickly knocked and placed under control. Chief 14B had "Interior". Truck 14 was ready for service at 1734 hours. Photo courtesy of PGFDFire.com.

Just before 3 AM on Saturday morning, Rescue Squad 14B, Chief 14 (Fusco), and Chief 14A (McCoy) were alerted to the innerloop of the Capital Beltway in the area of northbound I-95 for the motor vehicle accident. First arriving units advised they had one car off the roadway and one pinned under the vehicle. As Rescue Squad 14B arrived, they found an SUV, 20-30 yards down an embankment in a drainage ditch, overturned, and on its side. The two passengers had both been ejected from the vehicle, however, the SUV had rolled over pinning one patient under the vehicle in 2-3 feet of standing water.

Rescue Squad 14B faced many challenges stabilizing the vehicle. Wood cribbing was used but repeatedly became dislodged because of the water. Struts were placed on the clean side of the car to keep the SUV from moving further. However, again the water made stabilization difficult since the bases of the struts were on unstable ground under water.

With Rescue Squad 14 transferred to Company 8 (Seat Pleasant) and clearing a call on the Beltway, Chief 14A advised Communications to start them to the scene for the use of their winch. Rescue Squad 14 arrived on the scene in 10 minutes, and was able to position to use the front winch to assist in vehicle stabilization.

With the patient pinned under the SUV and submerged with only his head above water, crews had to make several difficult cuts to the roof and A-post of the vehicle with the hydraulic tools completely submerged under water. After making these difficult cuts, pressure was relieved off the patient’s chest, and the trapped subject was removed from under the vehicle. Extrication took 32 minutes from the time Rescue Squad 14R arrived on scene, and the patient was flown by Maryland State Police Trooper 2 to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, MD in critical condition. Rescue Squad 14B, Rescue Squad 14, Chief 14, and Chief 14A cleared the scene at 0427 hours.

With two donated cars available and many new members yet to complete their in-house training, 15 volunteers headed over to the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) in College Park, MD to take part in three scenarios. Scenario 1 involved a basic evolution with removing the doors and roof, and pushing the dash of a car on all four wheels. Scenario 2 involved a car resting on the hood of another car. Finally, Scenario 3 was an advanced evolution with a light pole resting on the roof of a car. Both rescue squads were brought to MFRI for the training, and Rescue Squad 14R remained in-service and ran two calls during the training.

After running two small fires earlier in the day, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to Kenilworth Avenue and Decatur Street for the personal injury accident at 1838 hours. Engine Co. 7 (Riverdale) was already on scene and reported they had one trapped. Rescue Squad 14 with 8 volunteers arrived and started stabilizing the vehicle. With the front passenger in the car trapped and no access to that side due to the position of another vehicle, the driver’s side doors and B-post were cut and the roof was removed to provide patient access. The patient was removed from the car and transported to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 1902 hours.