On the Scene with Fire Showing (with video)

1909 Briggs Chaney with Fire Showing

I can only think of a couple of incidents where I arrived on the scene of an emergency event before the apparatus arrived. So, just for grins, I’m going to memorialize these happenings this year, at or about the time that I recall them. 

Last week was, of course, the most recent. It was about 12:30 and I was headed home on my bike. My younger brother was in town (from Denver) and we were going to get together for lunch, It’s about a 12 mile round trip to the office and I was about one mile from Station 15, Burtonsville. Ironically, it’s actually in Silver Spring’s 20904 zip code. I saw a large plume of dense black smoke.

I’m thinking, “Okay. This has to be some innocuous, non-threatening passing event. Not at this time of day, like a piece of construction equipment being fired up, or maybe, well, whatever. I picked up the pace, for the longest climb on the way back. But this was a steady plume. 

“Should I call it in, sight unseen?” Nah. 

When I crested the hill, I could see the source. The backside of a vinyl-sided SFU was on fire. There were a couple of cars parked on the opposite side of Briggs Chaney Road. One of the drivers was screaming in some incoherent foreign tongue. He asked for the name of the road. 

I parked my bike against the mail box and walked to a seated figure on the front lawn. I figured this to be the owner in a catatonic state, holding a dog. I asked if he was the owner. He acknowledged in the affirmative. I asked who were the occupants. He motioned to his wife who was standing by, assuring me that everyone was out of the house and all accounted for. 

I strongly suggested that he move the two cars parked in the driveway. He said that the keys were in the house; so much for that idea. 

I then called ECC and provided a status report including the fact that there were no life safety issues. You don’t want anyone getting hurt looking for non-existent occupants. 

After Paul Davis Restoration did the board-up later that day

I could hear sirens. The first unit on the scene was an ambo. Then, a second. I had no idea of the status of the considerable equipment at #15. Medic Unit, 2 Engines, Truck Co, and Rescue Squad. 

The next on scene: B/C in a Suburban. Then another B/C. I was wondering where 15 Engine was. Still don’t know. But the plug was right there. 

When they showed, two pre-connects were pulled and the pump operator had water flowing immediately after the crew hand-jacked the lines over the split rail fence. The fire was knocked down almost immediately. 

Here’s the link to the video: 

https://vimeo.com/163311044

Steve Kotch's AAR (After Action Report)

I asked veteran Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge Champion Steve Kotch of the Little Rock FD to tell in his own words, the account of the swift water rescue in which he recently participated. His riveting account is below:

Captain Steve Kotch, Little Rock FD doing his last career hydrant check

I am writing this after-action report of the Boyle Park water rescue (Incident #2016-07059) on March 30th with E-14 A shift as an informal review. My hope is to explain what transpired, what could be done differently given a similar situation, and what demands our profession places on all of us.

We were instructed by BC-11 to lock the Boyle Park gates, but were delayed by rescue runs. We were finishing locking the east gate and boarding E-14, when dispatch advised us that they had just received a 911 call for a stranded vehicle on the west side of the Boyle Park low-water bridge. We responded via Boyle Park, 36th St, and 28th St. Upon arrival, we located a white SUV about 150 feet from the west gate on the bridge. I called for a water rescue response and were then notified that the mother had her two-year-old son in the vehicle with her.

I decided to position E-14 inside the gate to be used as an anchor point to attempt to reach the vehicle to remove the two victims. Because of the heavy rain and being called out on rescues, we were wearing turnouts, helmets and boots. As we were getting the harness and PFD on me, I knew that the turnouts may not be a good idea as also mentioned by my engineer. But my thinking was the water was not that high yet and the weight of my boots and wet pants might keep me better weighted down as I rescued the victims.

I made my way to the SUV with an extra PFD and was tethered with a lifeline. After getting to the SUV, I explained to the mother what we were going to do and that more help was on the way. After placing the PFD on her two-year old son and making sure it was secure, I removed him from the vehicle and, with the assistance of my crew, returned to E-14. I handed the child off to my crew and I considered getting out of my turnouts, but decided that it would take too much time to unharness, remove them, replace the harness and lifeline, considering the pending volume of water headed to our location from the north.

I returned to the SUV with the female and placed a PFD on her, making sure that it was secured. I then assured her that her son was safe and out of the water and that she would soon be reunited with him. I also explained to her that we had more help on the way and that I would not leave her. I explained to her what we were going to need to do if the vehicle started to move. I had her roll the drivers side rear window down, I then moved the car seat out of the way. Then I laid the drivers set back in a fully reclined position. She was not sure if she would fit through the window, but I assured her that if the vehicle started to move, that I would pull her through the window. By this time, the water was above my waist and WR21 was loading up on the east side of the park to re-position to the west side. It was then that the vehicle started to move, being pulled off the bridge. As I pulled the female out through the window the vehicle was swept off the bridge. We then began the walk to E-14, but I could feel the current pulling us to the south. I fell twice, but with the assistance of my crew, two LRPD officers and WR21, we were pulled to safety. R-2 was deployed down
stream with throw lines in support.

Given a similar situation, I would do some things differently. I would carry my shoes with me on the apparatus and would avoid wearing my turnouts, helmet or boots into swift water. I would communicate more information on the radio if possible. I would reduce the amount of time to remove the second victim with more focused and aggressive action.

I am extremely grateful for all the help I had at this incident. I had so much racing through my mind and thoughts as we were preparing me to go to the vehicle that I was almost being pulled to it. Although this was not my shift or company, I am glad I was able to contribute to this important rescue. This was truly a team effort and everyone involved made the outcome, a positive one.

The LRFD is well trained, but I realize that there is always more we can do. We spend a lot of time in classrooms, studying, learning, and discussing all that today's fire service is asked or required to do. This rescue took everything I had, strength, stamina, and a determined mindset to not let go. The citizens we protect deserve a lot with the tax dollars they spend. So in addition to classroom training, please consider training your bodies in some way as well. Be it in a gym, weight room, fitness center, garage, box (CrossFit), or some other place to be prepared to handle what might come your way. You may workout or train in many ways for years and never be tested, but then again, you might.