Volunteers Battle Blizzard
February 07, 2010 - As a large winter storm moved through the Mid-Atlantic region dropping nearly two feet of snow, Lutherville Volunteers remained busy and responded to approximately 25 calls throughout Lutherville and central Baltimore County over the weekend. A group of members volunteered a large portion of their weekend and remained at the station to fully staff all apparatus throughout the storm, providing emergency services around the clock. In addition to responding to calls, members continuously removed snow from the firehouse property and maintained all apparatus to ensure peak performance while battling poor road conditions.
Volunteers Kept Busy by Early Morning Storm: Rescue Box 17-29
January 25, 2010 - As an intense storm swept through the region, Lutherville Volunteers responded to five calls in less than two hours during the morning rush hour. At approximately 8:25am, LVFC was alerted for the report of a tree on top of a car with entrapment at the intersection of Dulaney Valley Road and Old Bosley Road. Squad 303 arrived, established command, and found multiple vehicles damaged by a large fallen tree. Although no entrapment, crews assisted M17 with a patient that was injured by a large tree branch that penetrated the vehicles front windsheild. Other calls throughout the morning included wires down, a report of a building fire, and multiple motor vehicle accidents.
Thursday Night Brings Two Working Rescues: Rescue Box 14-01 & Rescue Box 17-02
January 07, 2010 - At approximately 9:15pm, Squad 303 responded to the report of a motor vehicle accident with possible entrapment at the intersection of West Seminary Avenue and Falls Road (Rescue Box 14-01). While en route, police were first to arrive at the scene and confirmed one patient trapped in a vehicle that was broadsided / T-Boned. Crews worked aggressively for approximately 15 minutes to extricate the patient, who was then transported to Shock Trauma via M14. A few hours later at around midnight, LVFC was alerted for another rescue assignment, Rescue Box 17-02, involving a vehicle that went off the road into the woods. As the vehicle was located in a heavily wooded area, Squad 303's crew help cut through and remove small trees and brush to gain access to the driver's door to remove the patient from the vehicle. The patient suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
LVFC Responds to a Late Night, First Due Building Fire
December 30, 2009 - Just before 11:00pm on Wednesday, December 30th, LVFC was alerted for the reported building fire in the 1700 block of York Road. Engine 307 was first to arrive reporting a 1-story commercial building with smoke showing. Engine 307's crew quickly advanced a hoseline into the structure making an aggressive attack on a kitchen fire, gaining a knock within minutes. Squad 303 arrived moments after Engine 307 and helped conduct a search of the building as the fire was being extinguished. Other units on scene: E101, E17, E11, T1, T17, BC1, M17 and FID4. Crews operated at the scene until 12:30am.
Captain Weatherby's Study Featured in the NFPA Journal
December 21, 2009 - Captain Weatherby of LVFC was recently featured in the November / December 2009 issue of the NFPA Journal for a detailed study he conducted in cooperation with the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, the University of Maryland University College, Prince George's County Fire Department, and the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. The study, "Benefits of Residential Fire Sprinklers: Prince George's County 15-Year History with its Single-Family Residential Dwelling Fire Sprinkler Ordinance", reviews and summarizes the beneficial impacts of a 1992 Prince George's County, Maryland ordinance, which mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in new one- and two-family residential structures. Captain Weatherby studied the results from the ordinance over a 15-year period, between 1992 and 2007, and concluded that residential fire sprinkler systems provide numerous benefits, and has had a significant impact on life safety and reduction of property damage. These substantial findings serve as testimony and provide ample justification for other jurisdictions throughout the country to pass similar ordinances.
Winter Storm Keeps LVFC Busy
December 20, 2009 - As a large winter storm moved through the Mid-Atlantic region this past weekend, Station 30 remained busy and responded to approximately 20 calls throughout Lutherville and central Baltimore County between Friday night and noon Sunday. Due to the anticipation of a high volume of calls as a result of the inclement weather, a group of LVFC members bunkered down and volunteered a large portion of their weekend to fully staff all apparatus throughout the storm, continuously providing emergency services to the community around the clock.
First Due Dwelling Fire on Valleyfield Road: Fire Box 30-17
December 15, 2009 - Shortly after 7:00pm, as Lutherville units were returning to the station from a fire call in Towson, dispatch advised Engine 307 and Squad 303 to respond to the report of a dwelling fire on Valleyfield Road off of West Seminary Avenue. Shortly thereafter, Engine 307 arrived with smoke showing, established command, and made an aggressive attack on the fire which was knocked within minutes, successfully containing majority of the fire to a bedroom. Lutherville units operated on scene for several hours. BCoFD Fire Investigation Division was requested to the scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
2nd Alarm Dwelling Fire in Chestnut Ridge: Fire Box 50-02
December 13, 2009 - At approximately 9:30pm, Lutherville was alerted to respond to a 2nd alarm firebox assignment for a dwelling fire in the Chestnut Ridge area. Upon initial units arrival, fire had consumed the entire 2nd floor and roof area and limited firefighters to exterior defensive operations to fight the intense fire. Due to the lack of water supply, as the million dollar house was located in an area without fire hydrants, crews established rural water operations utilizing an underground water tank and a nearby pond. Engine 302's crew shuttled water from the two fill sites and remained on scene for several hours. The Baltimore County Fire Investigation Division is investigating to determine the fire’s cause and origin. (Photos provided by Michael Schwartzberg)
LVFC Members Awarded by the Towson American Legion
December 06, 2009 - Several LVFC members were awarded by the Towson American Legion Post 22 for the awards of Volunteer Firefighter of the Year and Career Emergency Medical Technician of the Year. These awards are presented to those "first responders" who have exceeded the requirements expected of their positions, and who have demonstrated community service coupled with professional achievement. LVFC members Lieutenant Rodney Hyde and Firefighter Barry Brewer Jr. were both nominated for and awarded the Firefighter of the Year for their quick action on an emergency scene in April. While on scene of a motor vehicle accident on the inner-loop of the Baltimore beltway between Greenspring Avenue and Falls Road, LVFC's crew suddenly became ware of a vehicle at full speed headed right for them and their rescue squad. Brewer shouted to the crew to watch out, and Hyde opened his arms and herded his crew to safety before the fast moving car struck the rear of the rescue squad where they had all been standing. Without the sudden actions of these two individuals, the incident could have resulted into severe harm to LVFC's crew. Another LVFC member, Paramedic / Firefighter Daniel Finke, was awarded the Career Emergency Medical Technician of the Year. Finke joined the Baltimore County Fire Department in 2003 as an EMT, and enrolled in a 1,300-hour program on his own time to become certified as a paramedic. He then took training to become a firefighter, and now is trained and cleared to act as acting Lieutenant in the Emergency Medical Services Division. LVFC would like to congratulate and thank these LVFC members for their dedicated service and the professionalism they demonstrate.
Hyattsville Lieutenant Visits LVFC for Unique Training Discussion
November 30, 2009 - Members from LVFC had the unique opportunity to gain insight from a member of the District of Colmbia Fire Department (DCFD) who responded to the Metro train collision which occurred on the Red Line in Washington, DC earlier this year. Firefighter Scott Hudson, assigned to DCFD Rescue 2, was a member of one of the first fire department units to arrive at the scene and provided insight on various topics of discussion including operational, logistical and command aspects of the incident, the importance of rescue tool and equipment familiarization, an understanding of rail and rail vehicle construction, and lessons learned based off of personal experiences from the tragic event. In addition to working for the District of Columbia, Firefighter Hudson is a Lieutenant at the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County, Maryland and provided LVFC members the opportunity to tour Hyattsville's new Rescue Squad 1.
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