On 06/27/09 at 0534hrs RVFD was alerted on the 3rd Alarm for the Commercial Fire at 526 Main Street, Church Hill Lumber.

                Engine 401 4w/416 (Deputy Chief Ebling) and Tanker 406 2w/ 417 (Asst Chief Hayes) responded with in 6 minutes.  When units arrived T406 was assigned to North Side water shuttle, Engine 401’s crew was initially assigned in manpower staging. 

                After a short time on the incident, Queenstown E32 lost draft for the North Side water supply, Engine 401 and crew responded to the Pond to reestablish water supply from the Dry Hydrant.  Supply was re-established to the fire ground.  However due to the volume of water that the Engine was pumping the second hard tube sucked flat, severely restricting flow.   A short break and we removed the compromised hard tube and using just one tube we again got draft and supplied the fire ground.  At this point QA Engine 55 had pulled up to the pond and had gone over using RVFD’s floating strainer.   And they were filling tankers, and a line was stretched to E401 to supplement the drafting operation from the dry hydrant. 

                United were on location until 1008hrs.

                As this project is on the Fast track wanted to give an update to the public.  The grant is open and closes on July 10th.  The Departments Building Committee and BOD have been busy working toward being “Shovel” ready.  Today we have detailed building plans, thanks to the work of Charles W. Bowen, A. I. A. Architect, Bill Stagg with Lane Engineering LLC, and Mike Hiner with Willow Construction.  Bids are being obtained and we should have firm prices in time to meet the Deadlines. 

                We started moving quickly when on June 8th we had a meeting with the Building Committee, the BOD, and Mr. Bowen, Mr. Stagg, and Mr. Hiner.  We have accomplished a lot and we have all come together as a Team.   I have posted the Elevations, Floor Plans, and the last version of the Site Plans (few Minor Changes). 

                We have met with the Town of Ridgely Planning Commission and have received overwhelming support and approval for our project.    They are ready to issue Building Permits to the department as soon as we get the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering done.   We have been in contact with SHA and are working toward the required Permits for the access to Sunset Blvd (State Highway)

                We will try to keep you posted as we continue to progress.

    On 6/18/09 at 2206hrs Caroline Dispatch sounded the 4-9 Box Assignment for the Dwelling Fire at 15330 Oakland Road.  Dispatched on the initial call, Stations 400, 600, 700, Tower 310, and PM14.

Chief 4 responded with Officer 417(Asst Chief Hayes), Engine 401 6w419 (Capt Gunderson).  Once responding Caroline advised it was a working alarm and they had received multiple calls.   Firefighter Baker was working CCSD and arrived first giving a status of a working fire on the “C” side.   Chief 4 arrived and Asst Chief Hayes assumed Oakland Road Command.

    Engine 401 was advised to take the driveway with a short driveway no need to drop a line, the supply line could be hand jacked to the road.  Capt Gunderson advised command that the crew would split, sending Officer 421 Lt J. Ebling with a line and two members to the first floor and assume Division 1 and that Officer 419 Capt Gunderson would take the reminder of the crew and a line to the second floor assuming Division 2.  Engine 401 arrived and crews quickly stretched the two lines, pushed fire back into the structure that was blowing out the front door.   Engine 703’s crew arrived and assisted the crews with the push into the structure.  

    Lt Ebling’s crew found high heat and heavy fire on the 1st floor, pushing back toward the kitchen; they found a gas feed fire that they were holding in check.   Capt Gunderson’s crew pushed the stairwell and found high heat and fire in the hallway and a rear room.  However bulk of the fire was in the attic, and growing, due to a floor system in the attic crews could not just pull the ceiling on Division 2 to reach the fire.  We were able to reach the attic area in the rear of the dwelling though the ceilings getting a little knock on the attic fire.  Shortly after crews located the attic pull down steps in the hallway.  The access was pulled and a cover was in place over the access, once the cover was removed the volume of fire in the attic was apparent!  Everything in the attic was off; crews got the line up in the attic and whipped it around knocking down the bulk of the fire.

    Other units had arrived and laddered all sides of the structure and Tower 310 was being placed to the roof.  Crews in Division 1 and Division 2 were whipped, Relief crews entered the structure to finish the knock on the fire, Crews from 310 made assess into the attic from the pull down stairs and finished knocking the fire in the attic.  Crews were on location for the scene for about 3 and half hours, with overhaul and salvage.  The Maryland State Fire Marshall was called for cause and origin. Preliminary cause was believed to be a grease fire in the kitchen that started the fire; Estimated loss from the State Fire Marshall was $525,000.  

Units on Location
Chief 4
Engine 401
Tanker 406
Engine 405
Ambulance 492
Utility 404
Paramedic 14
Engine 703
Engine 603
Tanker 606
Tanker 704
Engine 604
Engine 702
Rescue 600
Chief 3
Tower 310
Tanker 306
State Fire Marshall
 

                With the announcement of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) the Department has new hope for the construction of a new Station.   The Department of Homeland Security is releasing 210 Million for station construction.  Although the time frame is short the Departments Building Committee, Grants Committee in conjunction with the Board of Directors are working on a feverish pace to get the information and numbers together. 

                We have a very short time to develop building and site plans so that we can get estimates for the Grant Application.   Several members of the Department are working on parts of the Grant in gathering information for the narrative.  According to the Grant Funding Strategy and the Funding Priority the Department feels that the Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department is a prime candidate for receiving funding.  

                After a meeting with an architect and civil engineer the plans are coming together, preliminary designs are in the works.   At this point to streamline the process and grant application the Committees are looking to just build the Fire Station and leaving the Hall for future consideration.  It should be noted that the Grant does not cover the cost of a hall or anything that is not Operational in nature.  

                Senator Barbra Mikulski has been approached for support on this project, and has committed to help the Fire Departments in Maryland be ready for the future in addition to bring monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the State.  

                We will attempt to keep you posted on progress and any announcements as they come available.

Congratulations to Courtney Callahan who was vote into RVFD as a Cadet/Firefighter.  Courtney is one of the charter members of the RVFD Junior Cadets, and the first to be voted in as an active member of the department.  On a lighter note, you still won't beat me to the firehouse Courtney!!

Fire Chief Bobby Utz

RVFD is pleased to announce our first Gun Raffle.  Tickets are now available from any RVFD member at $20 per ticket.  The raffle will be a lottery format through the month of September 2009.  Winner will be determined by the Maryland "Pick 3" Lottery (Evening Draw).  Winners will be drawn daily Sept. 1st-Sept.30th.  All winners will be required to complete and pass the NICS background check before taking possession of the firearm.  Winners that cannot pass the background check or those that refuse to take possession of the firearms, will receive a consolation cash prize of $100.   So take a chance, and support your local fire department.