On June 2 at 1316 hours, Quint 6 (Q-6) was dispatched to 1250 East Marshal Street for a car on fire on the third level of a seven story parking deck. Q-6 arrived on scene with a lot of smoke showing from a parking deck. Q-6 established command and established a water source. Q-6 used the truck as an elevated standpipe stretching handlines from the tip of the ladder. Additional companies came in to assist them, as they responded to several fire alarms on the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) campus of Medical College of Virginia. The original call reported that a car had smoke coming from the engine compartment. Q-6 and E-5 advanced several handlines as they found three cars on fire. Units remained on scene until 1700 hours assisting VCU police and fire investigators.

Busy Day For Richmond Fire

Valentine’s day proved to be a very busy day for Richmond Fire starting just before 9:30 a.m. when units were dispatched to the 3400 block of W. Franklin Street for a house fire. Engine 18 arrived on scene with a 2-story masonry constructed house with heavy smoke showing. Units entered the house and found fire in a room in the rear of the house. The fire was contained to room of origin. Several animals were rescued from the house. The fire was marked under control at 10:10 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

At 10:49 a.m. units were dispatched to 7101 Forest Hill Ave for a report of a ½ acre brush fire. Battalion 4 was in the area and arrived on scene within two minutes of the call and requested two more units to assist Q-20 with the fire. E-22, Brush 22, Quint 23, Quint 25 and Foam Tanker 25 were added to the assignment. The fire was marked under control at 11:17 a.m.

Early Morning Fire Ruled Accidental

On October 6 at 0826 hours Q-18, Q-12, Q-10, Q-19, R-2, BC-2 and Safety 2 were dispatched to 20 S. Nansemond Street for a reported building fire. Q-18 arrived on scene within 3 minutes and reported a 2 story office building with moderate smoke showing from the roof. Q-18 established a water supply and began an aggressive offensive attack. Q-10 Ladder the C side of the office building as Q-12 assisted with fire attack. Q-19 was assigned as the Rapid Intervention Team as R-2 performed a quick search of the fire involved building. Once the incident was declared a working fire Q-6, Q-5 and BC-1 was added to the assignment those units checked the other two businesses with in the strip mall complex. The fire was contained to the original unit but another business did receive minor smoke damage. The fire was marked under control at 0901 hours. The fire was ruled accidental, electrical in nature.

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.

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.

Stucture Fire on the Northside Qucikly Controlled

On April 19th, at 0453 hours units were dispatched to the 900 block of Chamberlayne Parkway for a building fire with flames thru the roof. Q-5 arrived on scene with the same report. Units were able to quickly extinguish the fire and bring it under control in about 20 minutes. The building was occupied by the police department for Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The building received a moderate amount of damage and the fire was ruled accidental.