Richmond Fire Handles School Bus Accident

On May 31st at 1350 hours, Richmond Fire units were dispatched to the 1800 block of Commerce Road for a school bus accident. Rescue 3 arrived on scene to find a school bus had hit a power pole and then struck a truck parked in the parking lot. Rescue 3 requested Virginia Power and advised that they had two people on a school bus that were injured. Members of Rescue 3, Quint 21 and Quint 17 worked together to remove the patients from the bus. Only one person required transport to the hospital. The bus driver swerved to avoid hitting a man on a moped. The street remained closed until 6 p.m.

Two Escape Cooking Fire

On Monday, January 10th, 2010 at 1643 hours Quint 22, Quint 17, Quint 20, Quint 23, Rescue 3, Safety 2 and Battalion Chief 3 were called to 2918 Bertram Road for the reported kitchen on fire. Q-22 arrived on scene with fire showing from the B/C corner of a masonry-constructed rancher. Q-22 established command of the incident and launched an aggressive interior attack. Q-17 arrived shortly after securing a second hydrant and laid into the scene and performed Truck Operations as Q-20 was assigned the Rapid Intervention Team. Q-23 assisted with interior operations. Two people were at home when the fire started and were able to escape the fire without injury.

The working fire was declared bring in E-13, Q-24, Air Light 5 and BC-4. The fire was marked under control at 1704 hours. The fire was ruled accidental. The Red Cross was called to assist four people from this incident.

Early Morning Accident Sends Two to the Hospital

At 0851 hours this morning Richmond Fire was dispatched to the intersection of 41st and Forest Hill Ave for a two car accident. E-20 arrived on location to find a two car accident with two patients complaining of injuries. Both patients were transported to an area hospital by Richmond Ambulance Authority. Units remained on scene until 0930.

Early Morning House Fire

At 0519 hours on August 5th, Q-6, Q-21, Q-20, Q-1, Rescue 3, Safety 2 and BC-1 were dispatched to the 1800 block of Bainbridge St for a reported house fire. Rescue 3 arrived on scene with a 2 story duplex with smoke showing from the A-side of the structure. Rescue 3 quickly learned that all occupants were out of the house. Rescue 3's Lieutenant established command of the incident and directed his company to perform a search of the structure as Q-6 stretched an 1¾ hand line inside and Q-21 performed Truck Company Operations. Q-20 secured a secondary hydrant fifteen feet from the structure and Q-1 became the Rapid Intervention Crew. Once the working fire was declared, Q-17, Q-5 Air Light 11 and BC-3 were added to the assignment. The fire was marked under control at 0542 hours. The Red Cross assisted five people. The fire was ruled accidental, smoking related.

2 Fires in the Same Apartment Complex

April 7 proved to be a busy day for Richmond Fire and Emergency Services with 2 fires in the same block only hours apart. The first call was at 16:47, Q-22, Q-21, Q-23, Q-20, Rescue 3, Safety 2 and BC-3 responded to the 3700 block of Guilder lane for a reported apartment fire. Q-22 arrived on scene and established command with smoke showing from a 2 story apartment building. Q-22 entered the structure and discovered fire on the second floor and in the attic of the apartment. Q-21 secured a secondary hydrant and was assigned as the Truck Company while Q-23 checked one of the exposure apartments.  Rescue 3 and Q-23 personnel removed a bed ridden female from an exposure apartment.  The female was assessed by the Richmond Ambulance Authority and did not need to be transported. The fire was marked under control at 17:10. The Red Cross was called to assist a total of 10 people.

While Q-22 was waiting for the Red Cross to assist the families affected by the first fire, they were alerted to a fire in the next set of apartments some 100 feet away from the first fire. The same units were dispatched to the second apartment fire at 18:39. Battalion 3 arrived on location with smoke showing. The fire was marked under control at 6:55 p.m. Both fires were ruled accidental.

In both fires, a contractor was on location doing some type of repair work were combustible material was ignited.

Southside House Fire

On May 3rd, at 1509 hours units were dispatched to the 1500 block of Sunbury Road for the reported house fire. Q-22 arrived on scene with heavy fire showing from the A side of a brick rancher. A quick search of the house proved negative as units continued to combat the fire. The fire was marked under control at 1534 hours. The fire is still under investigation.

Accident with 1 Trapped on Southside

At 1628 hours on April 21, Richmond Fire units Q-21, Q-20, E-6, Rescue 3, Safety 2 and BC-1 were dispatched to the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway and Maury Street for a motor vehicle accident with one person trapped. Rescue 3 arrived on scene with a two car accident and confirmed a van on its side and one person trapped inside. As E-6 established patient care for the trapped victim, Q-21 stood by with a 1¾ handline and Q-20 took care of the hazards for both vehicles. R-3 removed the roof of the van to free the patient. Once free, he was then transported by a Richmond Ambulance Authority unit to an area hospital. The extrication took 19 minutes to complete. Units remained on scene until 1830 hours.

Early Morning House Fire in Richmond

At 0544 on April 20th, Richmond 911 was alerted to a fire in the 2300-block of Summer Hill Avenue on the City’s southside. Q-21, Q-22, E-17, Q-23, Rescue 3, Safety 2 and BC-3 were dispatched. Q-21 arrived on scene with a 2 story masonry constructed house heavily involved in fire and immediately placed a 2½ handline in service. Q-22 arrived on scene and prepared for defensive operations. E-17 and Q-23 placed handlines in service also and controlled utilities. While units were combating the fire the C-side of the house collapsed.

All RFD units were accounted for and the fire was brought under control at 0622 hours. Fire units remained on scene assisting the fire investigators and building officials until 1100 hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Fire Destroys Southside Home

April 9, at 2253 hours Q-21, E-17, Q-6, Q-20, R-3, Safety 2, and BC-1 were dispatched to the 2200 block of Fairfax Ave for the reported house fire. Q-21 arrived on scene with heavy fire from the second floor of a 2-story wood frame single family dwelling. Q-21 established fire attack as E-17 secured a secondary water supply and conducted Truck Company Operations. Q-6 was assigned as a secondary fire attack and Q-20 was assigned as the Rapid Intervention Team. Rescue 3 searched the house that proved negative. On the working fire declaration Q-5, Q-22, and BC-3 were added to the assignment. Evacuation tones sounded at 2310 hours ordering everyone one out of the house. Units went defensive and used ladder pipes to knock the fire down. Once fire was knocked down units re-entered the house and checked for fire extension. The fire was marked under control at 0232 hours with no injuries.

Camper Fire on 95 Ties up Traffic for Hours

On April 6 at 1546 Richmond 911 was flooded with calls for a fire on Interstate 95 involving a camper. Q-21, Foam 21 and Foam/Tanker 8 were dispatched to I-95 north just south of the Maury Street exit. Quint 21 arrived on scene with a large camper well involved. Foam 21 set up for foam application operations as Foam/Tanker 8 supplied water. Members of Q-21 placed a ground ladder in service to combat the flames as a several handlines were placed in service. Members battled the blaze in 93 degree temperature.

Additional units were added to the call bringing in Foam/Tanker 24 and Chesterfield to assist. Traffic on 95 North was closed for several hours and one lane south was closed. Units worked with Virginia State Police to open one lane about 2 hours into the incident.

Vehicle Crashes into McDonald's in Richmond

At 12:54 on March 30th, 2010 Richmond fire units were dispatched to the McDonald’s at Forest Hill and Huguenot Road for a vehicle into the building with one person trapped. Qunit 24 arrived on scene and immediately entered the structure to discovered one elderly female trapped. Q-24 personnel broke the table and removed the debris around the female patient that was trapped and assisted Richmond Ambulance Authority with packaging her for transport. Richmond police are investigating the accident. The building official was on location and a contractor was called in by the owner.

Appliance Store Fire Ruled Accidental

On March 16th at 1318 hours, Q-17, E-20, Q-21, E-6, R-1, Safety 2, and BC-3 were dispatched to the intersection of Hull Street and Midlothian Turnpike for a reported building fire.  The Department of Emergency Communications received several calls indicating that smoke and flames were visible from the building.  Q-17 arrived on scene reporting a single story commercial building with heavy smoke showing from the A side of the structure.  Once the working fire was declared, Q-22, Air Light 11, and BC 1 were added to the assignment.  The fire damage was contained to the original structure within the strip mall.  A nearby business did receive minor smoke damage.  The fire was brought under control at 1341 hours.  The fire building was located in the 2600 block of Midlothian Turnpike.

Fire investigators have ruled the fire to be electrical, accidental in nature.  The business sustained a $30,000 loss. 

Hull Street MVA with Entrapment

On February 23rd at 0759 hours, Q-17, Q-22, Rescue 3, Safety 2, Q-6 and BC-3 were dispatched to the intersection of Hull Street and Southside Plaza for a motor vehicle accident with one person trapped.  Q-17 arrived on scene and confirmed a SUV vs a light pole with entrapment.  Rescue 3 stabilized the vehicle as other companies performed the extrication.  The patient was removed from the vehicle in less than 30 minutes and transported to an area trauma center. Units remained on scene for a few hours to assist the police with crime scene investigation.  

One Person Escapes Fire without Injury.

On February 22nd, at 1431 hours, Q-20, Q-23, Q-17, Q-22, R-3, Safety 2 and BC-1 were dispatched to the 5600 block of Larrymore Rd for a caller who dialed 911 and stated “his house was on fire and hung up”. Q-23 arrived on scene to find a 2-story wood frame dwelling with flames visible on the first floor on the A-side of the structure.  Fire units were able to bring the fire under control at 1511 hours.  The fire is still under investigation and the Red Cross is assisting the family of 6 that was displaced by the fire. 

RFD Battles Southside Housefire

On February 16th at 1602 hours, Q-25, Q-24, Q-19, Q-20, R-3, Safety 2 and BC-3 were dispatched to the 10100 block of Merrimac Rd for a reported house fire.  Q-25 arrived on scene to find a 2-story residence with heavy fire on the A-side of division 2.  The fire extended to the attic area of the house.  The fire was brought under control at 1645 hours.  The fire is under investigation.

House Fire on Southside

On December 30th at 0129 hours, Richmond Fire units were called to the 4500 block of Crotan Road for a reported house fire. Q-25 arrived on scene with a brick and wood frame house with heavy fire from the A side of the house. Units entered the house and discovered heavy fire in the basement and on the first floor of the residence. Two people were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape the house without injury. The fire was marked under control at 0258 hours. All units returned to service shortly after 5 a.m. The fire is still under investigation.

Vacant house fire in Richmond.

At 1359 hours on December 28th, E-17, Q-20, E-6, E-21, Rescue 3, Safety 2, and BC-1 were dispatched to the intersection of Wise Street and West 24th Street for a reported house fire. As Q-6 was enroute to the call, they reported heavy black smoke seen in that area. E-17 arrived on scene to find heavy smoke showing from a one story wood frame structure. E-17 established a water supply and launched an aggressive fire attack as Q-20 performed Truck Company Operations. BC-1 arrived on scene and ordered personnel out of the structure. Communications issued the evacuation tones and firefighters exited the house and went into defensive operations. Fire officials were informed that the house was a vacant structure. The exposure on the B side was also a vacant structure and received some fire damage. The fire was marked under control at 1437 hours. The fire is under investigation at this time.

Fatal Fire in Richmond

At 06:16 on December 8th, units were dispatched to the 1400 block of Lynhaven Aveune for a reported house fire. While units were en route to this call they received additional information indicating that an elderly wheelchair-bound person was possibly still inside. Rescue 3 arrived on location to find a 1½ story wood frame structure with heavy fire showing from the B and D side of the house. Rescue 3 forced entry into the structure as Q-21 secured a water source and launched an aggressive fire attack. Q-17 performed truck company operations, Q-22 assisted with fire attack and Q-20 was assigned as the RIT team. Units discovered fire in the basement area of the house as well as on the first floor and in the attic of the house. The fire was brought under control at 06:53 hours.

Rescue 2 was called in on a special request to help shore up the kitchen area of the house, which received heavy damage as a result of the fire. The fire was determined to have started in the kitchen and was ruled accidental.

Southside House Fire

On December 7th at 15:26 Richmond Fire units were dispatched to the 2500 Block of Sisco Avenue for a reported house fire. Rescue 3 arrived on scene with a 1½ story house with heavy fire showing from the attic. Rescue 3 personnel performed a quick search of the house that proved negative. E-21 secured a water source and launched an aggressive fire attack as Q-22 performed truck operations. The fire was brought under control at 15:57. The fire was ruled accidental in nature, caused by an electrical overload.

Southside Garage Fire

On December 7th at 11 a.m. Richmond Fire units were dispatched to the area of 20th and Decatur for a reported garage fire. Rescue 3 was a few blocks away and reported that they had a large column of black smoke showing in the distance. Rescue 3 arrived and reported a single garage well involved in fire. Q-20 arrived on scene and secured a water source and performed fire attack. The fire was marked under control within 20 minutes. Units remained on scene to assist an investigator, the fire is still under investigation at this time.