Three hours after returning from the third alarm on Wilson Bridge Drive, Kentland Volunteers from Company 33 were summoned to another working fire. This time, Engine Company and Tower Ladder 33 were en-route with eight volunteers for the house on fire at 417 Carmody Hills Drive in Seat Pleasant. Engine Company 8 arrived within minutes and reported a two-story, detached wood frame and fire showing. Engine Company 33 arrived as the third due Engine Company, stretched the 250-foot pre-connect to the rear of the home and reported fire showing from the attic area. The crew checked the basement and began to work their way up. After finding nothing on the first floor as well, they proceeded to the attic area to back-up Engine Company 8 and assist with extinguishment. Tower Ladder 33 was the first due Truck Company, positioned on the "A" and "B" corner of the home and utilized a driveway gain access to the exterior of the home with the "bucket" of the boom. The interior crew began performing searches, ventilated and opened-up the main fire area. The exterior team placed four portable ladders and assisted with opening up the gable area of the attic. Volunteers from Kentland 33 operated for approx. two-hours before returning to service.

Just two days after the third alarm apartment fire on Maxwell Drive, another multiple alarm apartment fire was now unfolding in Oxon Hill, Maryland. At 1745 hours, a box alarm was transmitted for the building on fire at 538 Wilson Bridge Drive. First arriving units reported a three-story apartment building and fire on two floors with extension. The second alarm was immediately requested bringing Rescue Squad 33 from quarters. As units were en-route, a third alarm was transmitted as well. Rescue Squad 33 arrived, staged and then performed misc. tasks. This fire eventually spread to adjoining buildings before being extinguished. Rescue Squad 33 returned to service within two-hours. Photo courtesy the Morningside VFD, Company 27.

Just one and a half hours after returning from the third alarm fire in Suitland, Tower Ladder and Chief 33 responded to another fire at 5002 Emo Street in Capitol Heights. The Tower Ladder responded on this run with five volunteers. Engine Company 8 was the first unit to arrive and report a two-story, cape cod style home and smoke showing. As the Tower Ladder arrived on the scene, smoke showing turned to fire showing from the second floor. They crew was assigned to cover the rear of the home as the second due Truck Company and began placing portable ladders to the rear. The interior team began to search for occupants as the outside team began to open-up. At the height if the fire a taskforce alarm was called, bringing an additional two Engine Companies and a Truck Company. The fire took approx. 30 minutes to bring under control and was found throughout the house. Tower Ladder 33 returned to service within two-hours of service.

As the afternoon hours of Christmas Eve began, a box alarm was transmitted for the apartment on fire at 6394 Maxwell Drive in Suitland, Maryland. Within minutes, Engine Company No. 27 of the Morningside VFD arrived and found fire showing from a second floor apartment. The crew stretched a line as Chief 27 established the Command. As the crew began extinguishing the original fire apartment it was realized that the fire was already advancing to the thrid floor and attic area. The second alarm was transmitted bringing Tower Ladder 33 with six volunteers as the second due Truck Company. While en-route to the scene, a game plan was orchestrated between the OIC and the chauffeur. It was deemed that the complex was heavily gated and most likely all incoming units would surely be entering from the same direction. Once in the housing project complex, the Tower Ladder proceeded to the opposite end of the complex and cut down a large iron gate to gain access. Then once in-front of the fire building cut down and removed an additional iron fence to access the rear of all buildings involved. As the chauffeur placed the Tower Ladder into position, the crew was assigned to the top floor of the "Delta" exposure and began to open-up and extinguish fire. They were soon joined by other units from the greater alarm and worked aggressively to stop the extension of additional fire. Once the Tower Ladder was in position, a water supply was established with the help of Engine Company 26 and the chauffeur began opening-up the soffet and cornice area from the "bucket". Members worked for approx. one-hour to bring the fire under control. After the fire was contained by interior units, Command ordered Tower Ladder 33 to place the stang gun in-service to hydraulically overhaul any remaining hotspots within the three buildings involved. Tower Ladder 33 operated at this alarm for approx. four hours before being released. Photos and Videos courtesy various sources.

Just before 0700 hours, Engine Company 33 began responding to several incidents on the Capital Beltway and in the first due. During this time, a box alarm was transmitted for the building on fire at 3517 Lupine Court in Landover Hills. The assignment consisted of units that normally would not run the incident. Upon the arrival of Engine Company 30, fire was found between three floors of a mixed townhouse, apartment building. Due to the amount of work, a taskforce alarm was called, bringing Engine Company 33 with four volunteers. Once on the scene, the crew established the rapid intervention team and assured egress points were established. The crew operated for approx. 30 minutes.

Starting Friday night and lasting until Sunday morning, the area that the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department protects had approx. 26 inches of snow dumped on it. This made for a busy 72-hour time period in which 78 individual incidents were responded to from Company 33. This included everything from non-emergency incidents to working fires and accidents with people trapped. Dedicated members help staff the apparatus at Company 33, providing at a minimum of two fully staffed crews and the mini-pumper during the storm. This was the most snow that the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area had seen since 1996.

At 1818 hours, units from the Bladensburg VFD, Company 9 were dispatched to the reported auto accident at the intersection of Landover Road and 55th Avenue. Units arrived to find a passenger sedan that had collided with a box style truck. The driver of the sedan was trapped and Rescue Squad 33 was special called on the assignment. While Rescue Squad 33 was en-route, volunteers from Company 9 began EMS care, provided lighting and a protection hoseline. Upon the arrival of Rescue Squad 33, the crew began stabilizing the vehicles involved. Once this was completed the extrication process was started. In all the driver side was completely removed as was the roof. Companies worked together to remove victim and place him in the care of EMS providers. The patient was transported to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad 33 returned to service within 35 minutes. Photo courtesy the Bladensburg VFD, Company 9.

At 1728 hours, Engine Company 46 and EMS units were dispatched to an auto accident at the intersection of Landover Road and Technology Way. Upon arrival, Company 46 found a two vehicle accident and one occupant trapped. With this, Rescue Squad 33 was special called to the incident. Once the scene, the crew from the Squad stabilized the vehicle and then proceeded to remove two doors and the "B" post to free the patient. This took approx. 10 minutes and the crew returned to service shortly there after.

As a major snow storm was hitting the Washington, D.C. area, numerous incidents were being dispatched for a variety of emergencies. On the southside of Prince George's County, units were responding to a reported house on fire. At the same time, a street alarm was transmitted for a chimney fire in a house at 4768 Homer Avenue. Due to units being out of position, Engine Company 33 with five volunteers responded as the second due Engine Company. Upon arrival of Engine Company 27 (first due), the box alarm was filled out when they reported smoke showing from the dispatched address. This brought Tower Ladder 33 as the second due Truck Company with five additional volunteers. While en-route, companies began to clear another box alarm. This placed Engine Company 33 as 4th due once they arrived. The crew stretched a line up the block and reported to the rear. The Tower Ladder arrived on the scene and immediately went to work opening-up the basement and first floor area with other companies. Fire was found in the walls and attic area of the home and was extinguished within 30 minutes. Kentland Volunteers operated for approx. one-hour before returning to service. While Company 33 operated on this alarm, an additional house fire was responded to in the Kentland area by transfer companies. That incident was controlled within minutes as well. Photo courtesy the Morningside VFD, Co. 27.

At 0719 hours, the box alarm was transmitted for the house on fire with possible people trapped at 703 60th Avenue in Chapel Oaks, Maryland. The assignment consisted of Engine Companies 38,8,17 and 33, Truck Company 22, Tower Ladder 33 and Truck Company 26. Engine Company and Tower Ladder 33 responded on the run with ten volunteers. Engine Company 33 arrived and assumed the third due engine responsibilities. The crew stretched a pre-connect to side "C" of the home, reported smoke showing from the first/second floor and advanced to the second floor to check for extension into that area and the attic. Tower Ladder 33, second due truck company on the assignment, positioned to cover the rear, placed multiple ground ladders to sides "C" and "D", began to ventilate and search for the reported trapped victims. The bulk of the fire was contained quickly and all searched proved negative. The exterior crew continued to open up the soffet and outside walls on side "D". Kentland Volunteers operated for approx. one and a half hours before returning to service. This was the eighth run since midnight and the fifth multi-unit assignment as well.

Just after 0600 hours, the rescue assignment was transmitted for the vehicle accident on Veterans Highway at U.S. Route 50. Initially, the assignment consisted of Engine Company 28, Rescue Engine 33 and EMS units. While responding, additional reports began to come in stating one person was trapped in a vehicle. The assignment was upgraded bringing Chief 33 and other units. Engine Company 28 arrived with a two vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer and a mini-van. A trapped occupant was also found in the mini-van. Rescue Engine 33 arrived a short time later and began to stabilize the vehicle. Once this was completed, the extrication began. Both driver side doors and "B"-post had to be removed. The dash had to be lifted from a top the patient as well. This process took approx. eleven minutes to complete. Once free, the patient was transported to a local trauma center. Chief 33 had the Command.

At 1459 hours, the rescue assignment was transmitted for the accident with one overturned on U.S. Route 50 in the area of Martin Luther King Highway. Rescue Engine 33 responded on the run with six volunteers. Upon arrival, the Rescue Engine also found one passenger trapped in the collision. Once this was found, the crew began to stabilize the vehicle and then removed the passenger side area to free the patient. This was completed within minutes and the patient was transported to an area hospital.

At 1333 hours, calls began coming in to the Prince George's County Fire Communications reporting a house on fire at 2708 Lake Avenue in Cheverly, Maryland. The assignment was dispatched, bringing Tower Ladder 33 and Chief 33 with six volunteers. Quint 22 was first to arrive at the same address and reported a one-story brick home with smoke showing. As units arrived, it was determined that the fire was located in the basement of the home. Tower Ladder 33, as the second due truck company, positioned to cover side "C", laddered the same and began a search of the basement level. Chief 33 assumed the "Lake Avenue" Command and a coordinated attack was made on the fire. Quint Company 22 held the top of the stairs on the first floor as Engine Company 9 made an attack via the rear basement entrance. The fire was extinguished quickly and Command scaled the incident back to Companies 22,9 and 33. Photo Courtesy the Bladensburg VFD

Just after 1000 hours, a box alarm was transmitted for the house on fire at 1633 Tulip Avenue in Ritchie, Maryland. Tower Ladder and Chief 33 responded on the assignment with six volunteers, leaving an additional crew in quarters. Engine Company 37 arrived quickly to find a two-story, middle of the group, wood frame house and smoke showing. The engine crew stretched a line through the front door and found fire involving the kitchen area. Tower Ladder 33 arrived as the first truck company and went to work opening-up, laddering side "A" and searching the home. All searches were negative and minimal extension was found. Chief 33 arrived and was assigned to the fire floor. Kentland 33 members returned to service with-in 30 minutes.

At 0512 hours, the rescue assignment was transmitted for the vehicle accident with one trapped in-front of 7401 Annapolis Road in Lanham, MD. Rescue Engine 33 responded on the run with five volunteers. Units arrived within minutes to find one person trapped as reported. The Rescue from 33 arrived a short time later and began stabilization efforts. Once this was completed, the entire passenger side was removed along with the roof. The trapped victim was freed within 10 minutes and transported to a local trauma center. The volunteers from Kentland returned to service within 25 minutes.