Shortly after 10:00 hrs a COLLAPSE RESCUE BOX ALARM was sounded in COMPANY 5's first due for a reported structural collapse with injuries. First arriving ENGINE Co. 52 found a 80' x 200' barn under construction that had partially collapsed injuring multiple people. All in all two patients were transported by Maryland State Police Aviation and an additional patient was transported by ground to University of Maryland Shock Trauma by PARAMEDIC 55. No one was trapped and the situation was quickly mitigated.

Around 10:00 hrs. a RESCUE ALARM was struck for a reported Motor Vehicle Accident with Injuries on State Route 32 in the area of the Dayton Highways Shop. Units arrived to find one person trapped inside their vehicle and released the same prior to turning the patient over to Maryland State Police Trooper 3. Units were picked up and back in service in approximately 45 minutes. Units On The Call: ENGINE Co. 52, RESCUE SQUAD 5 and PARAMEDIC 55. Later in the afternoon due to a prolonged incident in the Elkridge Area ENGINE Co. 51 was transfered to the quarters of COMPANY 1. Multiple crews were maintained and units responded to multiple runs before returning to the Clarksville area. COMPANY 5 maintained multiple crews throughout the day.

Shortly after 2100 hrs. units from Company 4 and the surrounding area were alerted for a reported Barn Fire in the 13000 blk. of Frederick Road.  Minutes there after a Task Force and Special Alarms were sounded bringing TANKER 5 to the scene.  TANKER 5 arrived on the scene and was placed into the water shuttle operation as there are no municipal hydrants in Company 4's first due.  As the Special Alarms continued ENGINE Co.  51 eventually ended up on the incident being utilized to establish another drafting site to support the operation.  Units operated for over two before being placed in service, the quarters of Company 5 was staffed with an additional crew.

All members that are able are requested to enter their availability in the www.CodeScheduling.net program. The calendar has been opened up and everyone is able to sign up now. Thank you for your help, if you have any questions please contact Mike Poetker.

Minutes after 23:00 hrs. a Miscellaneous Alarm was transmitted for a vehicle into the building in the 6300 blk. of Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville. ENGINE Co. 51 arrived on location to find a one story, wood frame, strip mall with a 8' x 8' hole in it and the vehicle removed prior to arrival. With no immediate Rescue needed the assignment was scaled back and the Engine Company awaited the arrival of Battalion Chief 2 to post the building. RESPONDING UNITS: ENGINE Co. 51, RESCUE SQUAD 5, and CHIEF 5B. Less than an hour after the above alarm a Rescue Alarm was transmitted for a reported motorcycle into the woods with a downed rider in the woods as well. Units arrived on location to find a motorcycle that had left the roadway and knocked down a tree that was laying on top of it. The single occupant was located in the same area and treated by Paramedic 55 before being transported to the area Trauma Center. Companies assisted in packaging the patient as well as controlling the hazards caused by the motorcycle. RESPONDING UNITS: ENGINE Co. 51, RESCUE SQUAD 5, PARAMEDIC 55, AMBULANCE 56, and CHIEF 5B.

Friday afternoon a powerful Winter Storm pounded the Mid Atlantic region bringing Blizzard Conditions as well as ALLOT OF SNOW. Over 30 inches of snow fell throughout the county and the demands for service brought even new challenges. The majority of alarms put PARAMEDIC 55 on the road all over the county as transport units were tied up for an extended period of time. COMPANY 5 had multiple crews in place staffing ENGINE Co. 51 and 52, PARAMEDIC 55, AMBULANCE 56 and UTILITY 5. Due to the severe conditions the Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department reminds community members that if we cannot see your address on your house we will not be able to find you as well as if you know where a fire hydrant is that is under snow please dig it out, we all have to help each other.

What was originally forcasted as a "dusting of snow" quickly turned into a full blown Winter Storm dumping 6" inches of snow. The surprising conditions lead to a lot of motor vehicle accidents placing a high demand for service in the County. Company 5 maintained two (2) suppression crews and two (2) EMS crews staffing both ambulances.

COMPANY 5 spent the day doing multiple details and training including repairing a damaged Dry Hydrant and conducting a formal drill on HCFR's new General Order 310.02 covering Structure Fires in High Rise Buildings. A good time was had by all and COMPANY 5 maintained dedicated crews for the following units: ENGINE Co. 51 and 52, RESCUE SQUAD 5, PARAMEDIC 55 and AMBULANCE 56.

All members are requested to enter their availability in Code Scheduling for the remainder of the month. Members may refer to the "Staffing" tab on the left hand side for approved Duty Crews. Thanks again for all your activity and support of the FDVFD.

Shortly after 2330 hrs. BOX ALARM 5-5 was struck for a reported BARN ON FIRE in the 14000 blk. of Howard Road bringing ENGINE Co. 51, TANKER 5, RESCUE SQUAD 5, BRUSH 58, and PARAMEDIC 55. First arriving units found a small out building fully involved and partially collapsed with live stock reportedly still inside. The fire was quickly brought under control and contained; not extending to any other structures. The structure was a loss however, civilians on scene were able to evacuate some of the animals prior to arrival. COMPANY 5's units were on scene till just before midnight until returning to service.

Minutes after 2200 hrs. COMPANY 5 was alerted for a reported Motor Vehicle Accident in the 5400 blk. of Shepards Lane with a report of the VEHICLE ON FIRE. COMPANY 5 responded quickly with four (4) crews to discover a single vehicle that had gone Head-On into a large tree and started a fire in the engine compartment. The Single Patient had been removed from the vehicle prior to our arrival and was handled by AMBULANCE 56 and PARAMEDIC 55, RESCUE SQUAD 5 held the fire in check with extinguishers until ENGINE Co. 51 arrived and mopped up the fire. The incident was quickly mitigated and Units were back in service in no time.

Shortly after 0730 hrs. a Mutual Aid Request was placed for TANKER 5 to respond on the WATER SUPPLY TASK FORCE ALARM for a HOUSE ON FIRE in Laytonsville. TANKER 5 responded quickly and supplied units on the scene with three loads of water before being placed in service. Also on the Alarm was Lisbon ENGINE Co. 41 who filled the tanker from an in-ground cistern tank near the incident. COMPANY 5 responded on additional incidents while the Tanker was gone.

Minutes after 0400 hrs. with a HIGH WIND ADVISORY in affect the stage was set for BOX ALARM 5-4 for a REPORTED HOUSE ON FIRE in the 6400 blk. of Richardson Farm Lane. ENGINE Co. 51 arrived on location to find a WIND FED FIRE in a two story, wood frame, detached, single family home with FIRE SHOWING from the SECOND FLOOR and THROUGH THE ROOF. The Fire was so intense it damaged the DELTA EXPOSURE and threatened multiple homes. A SECOND ALARM and TANKER TASK FORCE was quickly struck as this home was not near a municipal hydrant. Crews went to work containing the fire in the original fire building as well as protecting other nearby homes. With extreme cold and treacherous conditions units were forced to work initially with a Nurse Tanker Operation before transitioning to a nearly one mile relay operation from a municipal hydrant. It took a while to bring the incident under control and crews worked through the morning to control the blaze. With Icy Conditions quickly formed a Firefighter was injured in a fall and required to be medavaced to University of Maryland Medical Systems Baltimore Shock Trauma due to their injuries. Thankfully the personnel has been treated and is going to be ok. Units performed above expectations as conditions were in the extreme category with 40(+) mph wind gusts and sustained winds greater than (30) mph and temperatures hovering in the lower teens. COMPANY 5 maintained multiple crews and operated for greater than eight hours on this alarm. Thanks to all companies and personnel for their efforts during this alarm. With the below freezing temperatures it made clean up virtually impossible requiring all lines laid and used to be thawed before being placed back in service. UNITS ON THE ALARM: ENGINE Co. 51, ENGINE Co. 52, TANKER 55, BRUSH 58, UTILITY 5, PARAMEDIC 55, CHIEF 5, CHIEF 5A and CHIEF 5B.

The Latest Round of Winter Weather started early in the morning setting the stage for a busy rush hour and challenging road conditions. COMPANY 5 was prepared with multiple crews and maintained them throughout the day. Shortly after 1100 hrs. RESCUE ALARM 5-4 was sounded for a single vehicle that had run off the road and over turned near the woods with a Person Trapped Inside. The incident was in the area of Brighton Dam Rd. and Highland Rd. Units from COMPANY 5 arrived on location to find a single vehicle on its side with a person inside the vehicle complaining of no injuries but unable to get out. The Rescue Squad went to work stabilizing the vehicle and removed the windshield to assist the patient with getting out. PARAMEDIC 55 was held to obtain the refusal and the assignment was placed in service. UNITS ON THE ABOVE ALARM: ENGINE Co. 51, RESCUE SQUAD 5, PARAMEDIC 55, CHIEF 5A and CHIEF 5B. Throughout the day crews responded on alarms, cleaned the station and conducted the usual apparatus / equipment checks. The weather passed quickly and a quiet NEW YEARS EVE was in the works.

Shortly before 1000 hrs. TANKER 5 was alerted to respond on the MONTGOMERY COUNTY 17 BOX for a reported HOUSE ON FIRE in the 2700 blk. of Triadelphia Lake Drive. First arriving units arrived to find a two story, single family, wood frame, detached dwelling with SMOKE AND FIRE SHOWING. A TANKER TASK FORCE and FIRE TASK FORCE was alerted bringing ENGINE Co. 51, Howard County Tankers 3 and 11, Engine Tanker 44 and Engine Co. 111 to the scene. ENGINE Co. 51 was put to work in DIVISION I of the structure as TANKER 5 hauled multiple loads of water. COMPANY 5 maintained additional crews while crews worked in Montgomery County and units cleared within two hours.