On Thursday March 13th, 2008 members of Rescue Squad 411 C shift where presented with the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Gold Medal for Valor. The gold medal is the highest award given by the chamber for acts involving extreme personal risk, above and beyond the call of duty and has only been awarded 5 times in the 30 year history of the awards program.
The honors were presented for actions on May 27th 2007 involving the rescue of a trapped Fire Fighter at 6065 Estates Dr in the Franconia area of the county.
Lieutenant Danny Urps, Master Technician John Linhart, Fire Fighter (now Technician) Bill Ward and Master Technician Joseph Swift, along with shift mates, families and friends attended the ceremonies at the Hilton McLean Tyson Corner with a small gathering afterward at the Urps residence.
The recipients want all to know what an honor this award is, their gratitude to the chamber and thanks to all involved.

B Shift -Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a house fire, Monday, April 28, 2008, at approximately 5:40 p.m. in the Kingstowne area of Fairfax County. The townhouse is located at 5325 Larochelle Court.

Medic 411 was in the area prior to dispatch and arrived on scene first reporting fire and smoke from the front of the two-story townhouse upon arrival. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 10 minutes. The fire originated in a second floor bedroom. Four adults have been displaced. There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at $100,000.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. A drop light left too close to combustibles in a closet started the fire.

After 28 years with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Master Technician Joe Swift has retired. Joe started his fire department career as a volunteer at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in 1976. In 1980 he was hired by the county and was assigned to fire station 27. During his career he has been promoted several times up to the rank of Master Technician assigned to Fire Station 11/C. He also spent a 2 year assignment as the Deputy Fire Chief’s Aid. He worked at stations 27,26,34,01 and 11. Joe is very dedicated to training the rookies at any station he worked at passing on his knowledge and experiences. On his last day he was training the rookie on knots until 24:00 hrs. Joe has also received several accommodations including a Gold Medal for Valor the Departments highest award for Valor. Joe will be missed on THE HIGHWAY and by his shift. On 4/26/08 over 100 of Joe’s coworkers, friends and family celebrated his career with a great meal and lots of stories. There was every one from a retired Chief to rookies with less than one year on the job. Enjoy your retirement Joe and REMEMBER YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ON THE HIGHWAY.

C Shift - At 05:40 hrs units from the 6th Battalion and Fort Belvior Fd were dispatched to 8422 Richmond Highway for the reported apartment fire. E424(Capt Clark) arrived on scene with smoke showing from the stairwell on side Adam. E424 laid out from Buckman Rd and Richmond Highway. As E424 stretched an 1 3/4 line TL424 entered for the primary search finding fire in the kitchen in an apartment on floor 2. E424 knocked down the fire while TL424 removed one elderly woman to M424.E409 picked up 24’s water and stretched the back up line. Command (BFC406) assigned additional first alarm units to search the remainder of the apartment building, and ordered a line above the fire to check for extension. Searching crews assisted several occupants out of the structure. Crews found no extension above and with the secondary search negative command held E424,E409,TL424 releasing the rest of the first alarm assignment.

A Shift - At 22:12 hrs units from the 6th Battalion and Alexandria City Fire Department were dispatched to 7316 Fairchild for the reported house fire. R411 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from the front door. T411 arrived at the same time and took a position on side Adam. With E411 responding from the far end of the first due the Rescue officer decided to stretch their front 1 3/4 line finding fire in the kitchen knocking it down. T411 vented and preformed the primary search (negative). E409 laid out from a hydrant and stretched an 1 3/4 to back up the Rescue. BFC406 had the command and assigned the rest of the first alarm units to check for extension and overhaul. M409 transported 2 civilians with minor burns to the burn center.

C Shift - At 18:44 hrs units from the 6th Battalion and Fort Belvior FD were dispatched to 8743 Richmond Highway for the reported apartment fire. E424 arrived on scene with smoke and fire showing from a second floor balcony. E424 stretched a 1 3/4 line to the second floor knocking down the fire in the apartment and balcony utility room. E409 arrived and picked up 24’s water stretching the back up line. TL424 preformed the primary search on the second floor while the operator laddered the building and vented. As units arrived Command (BFC406) assigned personnel to the floor above to perform searches and check for extension. With no extension found and all searches negative command held E424,E409,TL424 for overhaul releasing all others.

C Shift - Captain I Danny Cox has been promoted to Captain II and has been reassigned to FS22/A in Springfield Va. Danny came to fire station 11/c as our shift Captain in September 2006. He was previously assigned here as the Rescue Driver before he made Lieutenant in 2000. Danny has been with us through some tough times in 2007 and was instrumental in assuring our well being. Good luck Captain and could you please make sure that canteen 422 has fresh food for us while we are on the box.

B Shift - At 17:54 hrs units from the 6th Battalion an Fort Belvoir Fd were dispatched to 2661 Arlington Drive for smoke coming from a terrace level apartment. E411( Lt Bundy) arrived on side Charlie with heavy smoke showing from the terrace level apartment and the floor above. E411 stretched a 1 3/4 line to the sliding glass door while E424 stretched an 1 3/4 line from side Adam. E424 confirmed that the apartment door was closed and R411 and T411 started to open up from the Charlie side for E411. As units opened up the apartment flashed over becoming fully involved. With a fully involved ground floor unit in a occupied building and possible extension above Command ( BFC406 Mullins)requested a second alarm bringing units from the City of Alexandria Fd to assist. E411 pushed in knocking down the fire while E424 and E409 positioned lines above checking for extension. R411 along with TL424 conducted searches on all floors all negative. Truck companies vented and laddered side Adam and Charlie. E463 was the R,I,T.

A Shift - At 15:00 hrs units from the 5th Battalion and the City of Alexandria were dispatched to the outer loop of I495 prior to Telegraph Rd for the auto accident with one trapped. While enroute PSCC notified them that this may be on the inner loop after Telegraph and dispatched R411 to cover that side. E405 arrived on scene on the outer loop and reported one car off the road with entrapment. R426 and R411 worked together to stabilize the car and removed the doors to free the pt, The pt was packaged and transported to Fairfax Hospital by M405. BCF212 had the command

C Shift - At 10:59 units from the 6th Battalion and the City of Alexandria were dispatched to box 1199 at 2304 Glendale Terr for a reported house fire with kids possibly trapped. E411 (Capt Cox) arrived on scene with a two story Duplex with nothing showing from the street. As the Captain was doing a lap light smoke was visible from side Charlie. T411 positioned on side Adam and began venting and throwing ladders while the Rescue conducted the primary search (negative). Engine 411 stretched an 1 3/4 line to the first floor and located fire in a back bed room addition and knocked it down quickly. E205 searched the exposure and had only a haze of smoke. Command held E411,T411 for over haul and ventilation releasing all other units.