With a flood of phone calls coming into Public Safety Communications reporting an apartment fire with people trapped at 5925 Cherrywood Terrace, Company 14’s red direct line rang alerting Truck 14 to respond. Without delay, the box alarm was dispatched at 0848 hours.

Truck 14 with 8 volunteers arrived on the scene within minutes and Truck 14's OIC (Captain Kiernan) reported fire showing from the second and third floors of a three-story, garden apartment with people jumping and obvious rescues necessary. The second alarm was immediately requested. Chief 14A (McCoy) arrived seconds behind Truck 14, established Command, and requested the EMS Task Force. Chief 14 (Fusco) arrived shortly after, Command was transferred to him, and Chief 14A switched to Operations.

On their arrival, Truck 14’s laddermen immediately started rescuing occupants hanging out of windows and balconies from multiple locations due to the high heat and heavy smoke conditions that filled the building. On the third floor, a 30’ ground ladder was thrown where a women was holding an infant out of a window in apartment #301. Firefighter Heiney rescued the young child, and without hesitation, scaled the ladder twice more to rescue a female and male from the same window. Adjacent to these rescues, Firefighter Piper threw a 24’ ground ladder to the balcony of apartment #301 where another male was trapped. The man was assisted onto the ladder and rescued from the balcony. After making these rescues individually from two separate ladders, both Firefighters Heiney and Piper rescued a 400-plus pound male from apartment #201 by pulling him out a window. Finally, while Probationary Firefighter Badali did a 360° check of the building, he was alerted by citizens of trapped occupants on the balcony of apartment #204 on side Charlie. He threw a 20’ ground ladder and assisted a male and female to safety.

On the second floor, the barman and hookman forced entry into apartment #201 from the inside to conduct a search under heavy fire conditions and found two females trapped on the balcony with heavy smoke issuing from their apartment. A 12’ ladder was quickly thrown to the balcony, and both were rescued. After these rescues were made, the barman and hookman continued searching apartments.

The fire quickly extended to the cockloft despite an aggressive interior attack from the engine companies. The truck driver and tillerman extended the 106’ aerial and cut two trench cuts to prevent fire extension to the remainder of the apartment building. Additionally, the roof team operated a hose line to limit fire spread.

For a short period of time, Operations ordered an evacuation to account for all firefighters. Companies soon reentered and the fire was knocked down without ever switching to master stream operations. The fire was contained to apartments #201, #202, #301, and #302, and placed under control around the 45 minute mark.

In total, two full alarms operated while an additional alarm staged. Nine citizens were transported to the hospital with two in serious condition from burns sustained in the fire. Additionally, one firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor burns.

Truck 14 was held to assist with the investigation, overhaul, and salvage, and cleared the scene at 1353 hours.

At 2320 hours, Company 1 (Hyattsville) was alerted to a crash at East West Highway and Toledo Terrace. When they arrived on scene, they found two cars approximately 200 feet apart from each other with both drivers pinned. Company 1's officer requested two rescue squads to the scene, which alerted Rescue Squads 14 and 22 (Cheverly).

Rescue Squad 14 arrived on the scene and began extricating victim one, who was in the most serious condition. The squad crew removed four doors and the roof, and rolled the dash to free the victim. At this time, Rescue Squad 22 arrived on the scene and began to work on the second car. Rescue Squad 14 then assisted Rescue Squad 22 with the second extrication. Both victims were extricated within 15 minutes and Rescue Squad 14 cleared at 0010. Chief 14A (McCoy) had "Extrication".

Just after clearing a motor vehicle accident on the Baltimore Washington Parkway at Powder Mill Road, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to the 4600 block of Naples Avenue, in Beltsville, for the house fire. Engine Company 31 arrived to find fire showing from the first and second floor of a single family dwelling. Rescue Squad 14 arrived soon after and threw five ground ladders, conducted the primary search of the basement and first floor, and opened up. The fire was quickly placed under control. One firefighter received minor burns, and was treated and released from the hospital. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0645 hours.

Truck 14 was alerted at 1159 hours as the first-due truck to 3400 block of University Boulevard for the house fire with people trapped. The truck crew found fire in the basement, conducted the primary search with negative results, threw multiple ground ladders, and ventilated. The fire was quickly knocked and Truck 14 was ready for service at 1314 hours.

Rescue Squad 14 was alerted at 0535 hours to University Boulevard and Stadium Drive for the car into a pole. Rescue Squad 14 removed the doors and roof to extricate the patient. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0603 hours.

Truck 14 and Chief 14 (Fusco) were alerted for the house fire in the 5100 block of Lackawanna Street at 0033 hours. Truck 14, dispatched as the first-due truck, found fire in the bathroom, threw ground ladders, and ventilated. The fire was quickly knocked and Truck 14 was ready for service at 0212 hours.

Rescue Squad 14 and Chief 14 (Fusco) were alerted at 0117 hours to the motor vehicle accident with one trapped in the 9800 block of Cherryhill Road. Rescue Squad 14 removed the doors and roof, and pushed the dash to free the trapped occupant. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0145 hours.

Engine Company 35 was alerted for the local alarm at 7401 Greenbelt Road, the Jaspers restaurant, for the fire alarm. They arrived on scene with fire showing from the roof and filled out the box at 0510 hours. Truck 14 arrived and found fire in the kitchen with extension to roof. Chief 14A (McCoy) had Command. Truck 14 was ready for service at 0709 hours.

Truck 14 was alerted at 1706 as the first due truck for fire in the basement of a house at 7900 block of 18th Avenue. The truck crew conducted the primary search, threw ground ladders, and ventilated. Truck 14 was ready for service at 1853 hours.