fire

Proposed Temporary Fire Station at 10th and Rhode Island Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

logan_shaw_temp_fire_station

“Dear PoPville,

I received a flyer in my mailbox informing us that the District government is proposing to erect a temporary fire station at 10th Street NW and Rhode Island Avenue, NW (adjacent to the Shaw Rec Center basketball courts and next to Old City Guild). The engines and ambulances from the station on 13th St NW (between K and L Streets) will be temporarily relocated to this location while the existing fire station undergoes renovations. The emergency vehicles will be required to use their lights and sirens when exiting the temporary 2,730 foot structure and will be on call 24-hours-per-day. The temporary fire station is expected to be in operation for 14 months (from July 2014-September 2015).

This area of Shaw/Logan is primarily residential and quiet, and the sirens will be extremely disruptive both to nearby residents and students at Seaton Elementary directly across the street. If any of your readers have any opinions either way, they should send an email to ANC Commissioner Alexander Padro ([email protected]). The relocation will be discussed at tonight’s ANC 6E public meeting, 6:30 pm at the Northwest One Library (155 L Street NW, at NJ Avenue) and he will voice any concerns at that time.”

Car Fire on 395 at Exit 4

By Prince Of Petworth

20140218_182402

Thanks to a reader for sending. @DCPoliceDept tweets:

“Update: Expect delays – Vehicle fire blocks the center lane – DC 395 NB at Exit #4. Stay alert & decrease speed.”

Fire in Eckington

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_4746

A reader sends this shot just after 3:30pm – view from T and Rhode Island Ave, NW.

Update. Though the photo above was taken in Bloomingdale it is looking east towards Eckington. Another reader sends a close up photo from Lincoln Road, NE and Seaton:

12351131493_349cffc485_z

Early Morning Fire on the 3100 Block of Mt. Pleasant Street, NW near Devastating 2008 Deauville Fire

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_20140131_085242_544

From @DCPoliceDept:

“Traffic Alert: Fire 3100 block of Mt. Pleasant St., NW: Mt. Pleasant St., NW is closed is between Irving St & Lamont St NW”

@DCFireEMS tweeted:

“UPDATE – Fire 3100blk of Mt Pleasant St NW. 3 ppl transported w/serious to minor inj. all non life threatening. 30 ppl displaced.”

@WeinDC tweets around 8:30am that Mt. Pleasant Street is still closed to traffic at Lamont.

Update: A readers sends these very sad photos.

IMG_20140131_085300_137

A fire devastated 3145 Mt. Pleasant St, NW in 2008. Work is slowly progressing on rebuilding the new Monseñor Romero apartments.

Historic Engine Company 28 Firehouse Reopens after Renovations in Cleveland Park

By Prince Of Petworth

BeMOiAJIQAA11yZ
Photo of 3522 Connecticut Avenue, NW reopening via @mayorvincegray

From a press release:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray today joined public-safety officials to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Engine Company 28 firehouse in Cleveland Park. The historic building – which first opened on December 1, 1916 – has undergone a $4.7 million renovation to provide safety, architectural and energy-efficiency improvements.

Mayor Gray was joined by Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Paul Quander, Jr., Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe, and Department of General Services (DGS) Director of Capital Construction Services June Locker for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The improvements made to Engine Company 28 have not only restored this historic fire station, but they have also equipped the facility with needed upgrades to provide a safer environment for our outstanding FEMS staff,” Mayor Gray said. “This will improve the safety of residents, businesses and visitors in Ward 3.”

FEMS has implemented a capital program for the modernization of several of its fire stations. The program includes replacement of deteriorated HVAC equipment, updates to structural and electrical components and preservation and improvement of architectural features.

“Fire stations have always been an integral part of the communities they serve,” said FEMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe. “I’m certain the residents in Cleveland Park are just as excited about the re-opening of this beautifully renovated station as our staff members are about returning to this building and this community. We appreciate the Cleveland Park community’s patience during this renovation time.”

The renovation project for Engine Company 28 included widening the fire station’s bay doors to provide easier entry for emergency vehicles while also maintaining the building’s historic features.

“This project provided DGS with a great opportunity both to restore and modernize this 100-year-old building,” said DGS Director Brian J. Hanlon. “The building upgrades have improved the firefighters’ and paramedics’ living space, and today the fire station is safer for first responders to perform the outstanding work that they do for the city.”

Tons of Fire Trucks on Spring Rd, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

image

Dear PoPville,

There are at least 4 full-sized fire trucks, 2 EMTs and 2 emergency SUVs all on Spring Rd NW between 13th and 14th Streets NW. I live on Holmead and heard the first 3 trucks pull through and have been poking my head out the door to see if I can tell what’s going on. Within the last 10 minutes or so the 2 SUVs came and are blocking the traffic moving between 13th and 14th. I can only see people coming in and out of a house on Spring (directly across from Holmead), but it doesn’t seem to be a hectic situation. I’m not sure what’s going on. The only thing I can think of is if someone called in a Carbon Monoxide issue or other type of gas leak, but I would think they’d bring a PepCo person out…Any ideas?”

Huge DCFD Response at Georgia Avenue and Webster Street around 7/7:30pm

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_4690

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Between 7 and 7:30 p.m. tonight, nearly a dozen DCFD and MPD vehicles were at intersection of Georgia Avenue and Webster Street, closing off Georgia between Varnum and Allison Streets, as well as Webster between Iowa and Kansas Avenues. We heard what sounded like a police megaphone outside for a few minutes, so we poked our heads out and saw this.

According to one first responder that I spoke to, it was “just a small kitchen fire,” at 908 Webster Street, but it’s easy to see from some of these photos that there must have been enough smoke to soot up the side of the attached home. One bystander noted that none of the home’s windows had been busted and there was no smoke left in the air, so they must have responded quick.”

IMG_4696

“This study was a significant step in correcting some of the problems that have plagued our fleet division for years”

By Prince Of Petworth

6961480907_2771f21439_z
Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

Council Member Tommy Wells called it “an indictment of the management and maintenance of our Fire and Emergency Medical Services fleet – of our fire trucks and ambulances.” Below is the official DC Fire EMS press release and comment from Paul Quander, the District’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice:

“The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DCFEMS) released a study by BDA Global that examined the department’s current fleet capacity and management practices.

“This study was a significant step in correcting some of the problems that have plagued our fleet division for years,” said DCFEMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe. “The recommendations in this report will help us become more efficient and responsive in our operations.”

The report includes a comprehensive assessment of several major issues which include:

· Fleet inventory
· Maintenance and repair operations
· DCFEMS policies and procedures related to fleet operations
· Reserve apparatus requirements
· Training and certification of fleet maintenance personnel and facilities

More than 100 recommendations are offered in the report with some of them having been implemented by the Department prior to its release. One key recommendation implemented was the hiring of “a professional, civilian fleet director” to lead the apparatus division.

BDA Global, a District-based consulting firm that specializes in business process improvement, emergency management and continuity planning, was selected by the Department in July 2013 to conduct the audit.

Please click here to review the report.”

From DM Quander:

“There are many observations and recommendations in the report. It should be noted that in the report, it states some of the addressed issues date back 15 to 20 years. Some recommendations are short-term in nature and others are intermediate. While still others are long range. Chief Elerbe has already taken effective measures that have dealt with some of the most immediate issues. The goal is to fully assess the report, then develop a comprehensive, transparent and measurable implementation strategy.”

View More Stories