Recently, the Berwyn Heights VFD has been compiling a specification for a new ladder truck to replace our 1991 Pemfab/LTI tractor drawn aerial. To gain additional ideas and to view what different manufacturers have to offer, the local Pierce dealer, Singer Associates, was invited to present a ladder truck and information pertaining to it. The sales representative from Singer Associates brought along Truck 719 (Silver Spring, Montgomery County, MD), which members had the opportunity to drive, ride, and look around.

The 15 plus volunteers who attended, ate dinner together prior to the demonstration and maintained two crews throughout the night. Thank you to Singer Associates for an excellent presentation.

Rescue Squad 14 and Chief 14 (Fusco) were alerted at 0341 hours to the 1800 block of Elton Road, in Company 41’s area, for a house fire. With fire showing on arrival, the squad crew was assigned to search the house and Chief 14 was assigned "Safety". The squad crew searched the house with negative results, and assisted units from engines from 31 and 41 on Division 1 by opening up to check for extension. Rescue Squad 14 returned to service at 0441 hours.

At 1859 hours, Rescue Squad 14 was dispatched to Adelphi Road and Riggs Road for the personal injury accident with one overturned. First arriving units marked on scene with an overturned auto with no one trapped, but three trapped in another vehicle involved.

Rescue Squad 14 with 8 volunteers arrived and went to work by stabilizing the car. Once stabilized, all doors and the roof were removed to access the trapped patients. Extrication was completed in 5 minutes.

Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 1927 hours.

At 0055 hours, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to the outerloop of I-495 at Rhode Island Avenue. The squad crew arrived on scene with one trapped, removed all of the doors and the roof, and packaged the patient for awaiting EMS crews. The trapped occupant was flown to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad returned to service at 0135 hours.

At 0019 hours Truck 14 was alerted to the 8600 block of Greenbelt Road for the apartment fire. Berwyn Heights Volunteers arrived on scene with fire showing from the rear. The crew aboard Truck 14 completed searches, ventilated, and conducted overhaul. Truck 14 returned to service at 0138 hours.

At 1255 hours, Communications upgraded a street alarm to a box for the 9200 block of Willow Lane, in Company 34’s area, for the house fire. Units arrived to find fire showing from side C.

Truck 14 and Rescue Squad 14 arrived, threw ground ladders, ventilated vertically and horizontally, searched, and checked for extension. The fire was knocked down quickly and no injuries were reported.

Right after clearing the house fire on Willow Lane, Rescue Squad 14 was sent to the 1400 block of University Boulevard for the personal injury accident. Engine Co. 7 arrived and reported they had one trapped. Rescue Squad 14 arrived with 4 volunteers and went to work. The squad crew stabilized the vehicle, and removed the doors and roof. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 1524 hours.

The dedicated volunteers of Berwyn Heights had a busy 4th of July, including 3 working fires and a high-angle rescue assignment.

Just after clearing a personal injury accident on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway at Riverdale Road, Rescue Squad 14 was added at 0551 hours to a second alarm building fire in the 5000 block of Frolich Lane in Company 22’s first-due. Units had heavy smoke showing from a one-story, commercial building. Command ordered Rescue Squad 14 to utilize their winch to remove a mobile food vehicle which was the source of the fire and had multiple propane tanks attached. The squad was the only unit on the second alarm put to work and cleared the scene at 0633 hours.

The next fire of the day brought Truck 14 to College Park. Units were alerted at 1216 hours to the 4700 block of Berwyn House Road for the apartment fire. Truck 14, as the first-due truck, reported to the 7th floor where a small kitchen fire was found that was knocked down by a sprinkler. Truck 14 checked for extension in the walls and cabinets. The truck was ready for service at 1300 hours.

While the volunteers were picking up groceries for dinner, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to the 14100 block of Castle Boulevard on the working fire dispatch at 1625 hours. Units from Montgomery County had a fire on the 4th floor of a garden apartment building. Rescue Squad 14 arrived and joined the rapid intervention group on side alpha. The squad cleared the scene at 1651 hours.

To wrap up Independence Day, the high angle rescue assignment was sounded at Six Flags in Mitchellville, for the Superman ride that was stuck. Rescue Squad 14 as the Technical Rescue Support unit, arrived and staged while first arriving units investigated. A stuck Superman ride was found, and park and fire department personnel were able to walk everyone off the ride safely. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 1651 hours.