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On Tuesday,  April 2, 2013 at approximately 15:25 hours units were dispatched to the Charles County Fairgrounds for a structure fire. Responding units arrived and requested a second alarm due to the number of buildings involved and windy conditions. Command also noticed that a brush fire had started near the railroad tracks and that the brush fire had jumped across the railroad tracks. A brush fire task force and a water supply task force was requested. Several of the Tri-County Fire Departments responded with fire apparatus, as well as the District of Columbia Fire Department. A general alarm was sounded for this incident depleting the fire protection for Charles County. MSP Trooper 7 was requested by command to get an aerial view of the stuctures and brush fire.

In an effort to maintain fire protection in the County, several Mutual Aid Companies were requested to provide coverage in stations. Our station had a pumper from Blouvard Height (PGCO), ladder truck from Hollywood VFD (St. Mary's Co) and a tanker from Prince Frederick VFD (Calvert Co). For a short time we also had a pumper tanker from the Seventh District VFD (St. Mary's Co.) and a brush truck from Potomac Heights VFD.

THANKS TO ALL WHO RESPONDED OR MAINTAINED COVERAGE!!

Tournament Date:

MAY 25           AUGUST 31

SEPTEMBER 28  OCTOBER 26  NOVEMBER 23

All tournaments require a $125.00 buy in, $95.00 will go to the prize pool and $30.00 will go to the Department. Free food and drinks will be provided during the tournaments. Must be 21 to play. Doors open at 5:30 pm, cards will be dealt at 7:00 pm. Reservations may be made by calling (301) 609-7500.

On March 16, 2013, the Maryland Army National Guard hosted a March to End Hunger charity event.  Food drives were held at local grocery stores and service members marched 18.6 miles through La Plata.  The La Plata VFD developed an Incident Action Plan and coordinated emergency personnel coverage for the event.  Volunteers from several County stations and personnel from the Department of Emergency Services were on hand for the duration of the event. Chief Gilroy had Command,Deputy Fire Chief Hutchins acted as the Planning Section Chief, Assistant Fire Chief Kaufmann served as Operations Chief, and County Volunteer EMS Chief Huber served as the Medical Branch Director.  Chief 16A had the West division and WVFD EMS Chief 12A had the East division. Vice President Frazier assisted in the Command Post.  The La Plata VFD Ladies Auxiliary provided lunch for 50 members during the event.  Thanks to the Ladies and all members/companies who participated in the event!

The Department is saddened by the passing of Chief Gus Bowling today, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bowling family. Chief Bowling served with many of our members at the Naval District Washington Fire Department and volunteered locally with Waldorf VFD, Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit, and Bel Alton VFD. Gus was also an instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, where he taught many of our members fire and EMS skills. Chief, thank you for investing your time in us and your friendship, you will be greatly missed!

Arrangements for Chief Gus Bowling are as follows:

Wednesday 3/20/13 @ Sacred Heart Church La Plata, Md.
Viewing 3-8 (Fireman Prayers @ 7)
Thursday 3/21/13
Mass 10am @ Sacred Heart Church La Plata, Md.
Fireman Procession to St. Ignatius Church
Interment to follow @ St. Ignatius Church, Chapel Point
Any Fire and Rescue Departments wishing to bring apparatus please contact Waldorf VFD Deputy Chief Jeff Duer @ jeffduer@verizon.net.

Rest Easy Chief

At 0114 hrs, on Thursday, February 21st, the station was alerted for a motor vehicle accident with multiple rollovers.  RE-13 and Chief 1 arrived on the scene with a single vehicle which had rolled over multiple times, entrapping the driver.  Crews worked to extricate the patient who was then transported to PG Hospital via ground. 

A friendly reminder from the La Plata Volunteers, please don't text and drive. If you text and drive, you’re 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident.  A crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted.

Facts About Texting & Driving

• The United States Department of Transportation notes that cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year that cause a half million injuries and take 6,000 lives.
• According to FocusDriven®, up to 80 percent of all crashes involve some form of driver distraction.
• During any point of the day, 11 percent of drivers are talking on their cell phones, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• A study from the University of Utah indicated that the reaction time of a teen driver using a cell phone is the same as that of a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone.
• According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an auto crash than driving when intoxicated.
• The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute installed cameras on dashboards inside truck cabs. From the video footage, on average it took five seconds with their eyes off the road when driver's experienced distractions. The distance covered in five seconds of driving at 55 mph is equivalent to the length of a football field.

Sources: AAA, United States Department of Transportation, University of Utah, FocusDriven® Nationwide Insurance study, National Highway Trac Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

The La Plata Volunteers are now on Facebook! Like our page as another way to stay connected with your volunteers!

The new buggies have arrived at Criswell Chevrolet.  Chief 1 has inspected them, and they will be going to the emergency vehicle conversion vendor soon.  This will be the last time that anyone will see them as white vehicles.

Engine 11 and Tanker 1 were dispatched for the working shed fire in the 9300 block of Marshall Corner Road.  Engine 124 arrived on the scene, confirming a fully involved 30'X40' shed having six automobiles inside. 

Chief 12A established the Marshall Corner Command, and Engine 112 was assigned water supply operations.  Tankers 1, 12, 11, and Engine 11 were used to relay water to Rescue Engine 123.   Crews from Stations 1, 3, and 11 assisted with fire suppression.  Forestry 25 and Dozer 8 were requested by Command due to the nature of the incident.  Dozer 8 was used to remove vehicles from the shed and then hot spots were extinguished.