Newsletter

Thursday, January 12, 2012  On Thursday January 12th, 2012, the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department, Company 27, held a memorial service at their engine house (Suitland, MD) in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of Fireman Kenny Hedricks' line of duty death. The following is an excerpt from the ceremonies program:

On January 12th 1992, Engine Company 27 was dispatched for a first due house fire at 3807 Walls Lane in Suitland. Kenny had been in the structure and made a rescue of the family's seven year old son. Kenny reentered the house to search for additional victims. While searching the basement, he became trapped under debris and perished. 

Kenny had been a member of the department for about two years. Les Hedrick, his father, was Fire Chief at the time but was not on the call. Kenny attended LaPlata High School and had his sights set on becoming a career firefighter in the Washington DC area. Kenny's uncle, Ford Gallagher, at the time was a 12 year veteran of the Prince George's County Fire Department (PGFD). 




At Kenny's funeral, PGFD Fire Chief Steve Edwards made Kenny a honorary career firefighter in the PGFD. The new Rescue Squad 27 is dedicated to Kenny. Kenny's parents are still active in the department today; Les serves on the Board of Directors as well as being Vice President and his mother Cathy is still active in the Ladies Auxiliary. Both Les and Cathy are active members in the Fallen Firefighters Foundation and are counselors for families of other fallen firefighters across the Nation. Kenny will be missed by his family both in and out of the fire station. His love and devotion to the fire service will live on as an inspiration to all. 

Several members from the Kentland Volunteer FIre Department, Inc. have close ties with the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department and attended the service. A crew from Kentland also filled-in with Rescue Engine 33 to cover Company 27 during the event. The Officers and Membership of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. ask that everyone continue to keep the family and friends of the Hedrick family in their thoughts and prayers.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012   At 0215 hours, the box alarm was transmitted for the house on fire at 3616 Gramby Street in Landover Hills, Maryland. Due to units being on additional incidents, Engine Company and Tower Ladder 33 were assigned as the first due Engine Company and Truck Company. Chief 33 also responded on the incident and the total staffing of volunteers from Company 33 was eleven. Within minutes, the units from Company 33 arrived to find a one-story, detached home and smoke showing from the first floor. The crew from Engine Company 33 quickly stretched the front-bumper attack line and proceeded through the front door. Tower Ladder 33's crew simultaneously began to ventilate the home (in coordination with the attack line) and started to perform a primary search. Chief 33 arrived, shortly there after, and established the "Gramby" Command. Crews found fire involving two-rooms and quickly extinguished the same. Additional units on the alarm reported to the rear of the structure, cleared the basement level and assume the R.I.T. responsibilities. Command scaled the incident back to Company 33 units within 10 minutes. Volunteers from the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department returned to service within two-hours. 

Monday, January 2, 2012   At 1915 hours, the box alarm was transmitted for the house on fire at 9213 Greenwood Lane in Lanham, Maryland. The box alarm consisted of Engine Companies 28, 48, 30 and 18, Tower Ladder 33, Tower Ladder 7 and Rescue Engine 33 (as the Squad Company). Units from Company 33, to include Chief 33, responded with a total of fourteen volunteers. Leaving an additional crew of six volunteers in-quarters for the Engine Company. Engine Company 28 arrived minutes later and reported a two-story, detached home and nothing evident. That condition changed as their crew stretched an attack line through the front door. It was soon found that there was fire involving a first floor kitchen. Tower Ladder 33 arrived and went to work accordingly. The interior crew began searches of all floors and assisted with extension. Meanwhile the outside crew placed several ladders to sides "A", "B" and "D". Ventilating as they went. The fire was quickly extinguished and within 10 minutes the incident was scaled back to Companies 28, 48 and 33.

Sunday, December 18, 2011  Just after 1030 hours the Box Alarm was transmitted for an Apartment on Fire at 4313 57th Avenue in Bladensburg. Rescue Engine 33 was dispatched as the 3rd due special service and responded with 5 Volunteers. Engine Co. 9 arrived on the scene of a 3 story garden style apartment building with nothing evident. As Rescue Engine 33 pulled into the complex and assumed 1st arriving Special Service responsibilities the crew from Engine 9 reported they had a working fire on the second floor. The Rescue Engine's crew placed ground ladders to side "A" and proceeded to the fire apartment to open up for the Engine crew and conduct searches. A fire was located in the Kitchen area with some extension to the living room. After everything was opened up with no further extension found and all searches negative, command scaled the incident back to the Units from 9 & 33. Kentland operated for just over an hour before returning to quarters.