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- News and Notes from Rockingham County 4/1/15
News and Notes from Rockingham County 4/1/15
News and Notes from Rockingham County
By: Firefighter/NRAEMT Taylor Roby
On February 14th at 1850 Harrisonburg Rockingham ECC dispatched Companies 20 (Grottoes) and 5 (Weyers Cave) along with Rescue 20 (Grottoes) to 8675 East Timber Ridge Rd. for the report of a residential structure fire. Chief 20 (A. Holloway) was first to respond and was advised, while enroute, that there were reports of fire showing from the second floor of the residence. With the additional information a tanker task force was added to the assignment due to the location of the residence in relation to a water source, the deteriorating road conditions due to snow falling at the time, and high wind from the snowstorm with gusts up to 31 mph. Chief 20 was first arrived and marked off with a 2 story cedar sided residence with fire showing from the second floor on side A and B, Chief 20 established command. After completing a 360 walk around command assigned Engine 203 (Grottoes) to perform a transitional attack and utilize the deck gun to knock down the fire on the second floor and then advance an 1¾ in. handline to the second floor. After the fire was knocked down from the exterior the crew from Engine 203 advanced to the second floor for a fire attack. Tanker 50 (Weyers Cave) arrived and supplied Engine 203, Engine 207 (Grottoes) arrived and was assigned to pull a back up line and assist with fire attack on the second floor. Engine 54 (Weyers Cave) arrived and was assigned to the first floor to check for extension and perform salvage operations. The fire was marked under control at 2030 and was contained to three rooms on the second floor and the attic space. Additional tankers from Company 15 (Bridgewater) and 40 (Hose Company #4) arrived on scene and assisted with water supply. Due to the aggressive transitional attack methods and hard work from all those involved a positive outcome was delivered.
For the first time Rockingham County is working towards a standardized SCBA for all of the departments in the county. The first department that has received the new SCBA is the Timberville Volunteer Fire Company. Not only is Timberville the first in the county to place these new SCBA in service they are the first in the state to put the new MSA G1 SCBA in service. Timberville recently applied for an AFG grant to replace SCBA that were out of date according to the NFPA standards. At the same time Rockingham County Fire and Rescue (RCFR) was working towards standardizing the SCBAs for the entire county. When Chief Holloway presented the plan of replacement to the county’s board of supervisors they approved a replacement plan over 10 years to have a constant replacement of SCBA station by station throughout the county. Once this was approved RCFR began the selection process for the new SCBA and decided to go with the MSA G1. Since Timberville was already working towards obtaining these SCBA the county took over the financial responsibility remaining from their AFG grant and completed the purchasing process for Timberville. After the initial purchasing process was completed Timberville received the first round of SCBA and Hose Company #4 received the second round of the new SCBAs. Timberville completed their necessary training and familiarization in February and placed them on the apparatus. Chief Chris Coffman of Timberville VFC said that the department has enjoyed training on the new SCBA and is looking forward to using them in the field in the coming years. The ability to have everyone in the county on the same SCBA will enhance the safety and capability of each department in the county, and it shows the Board of Supervisors commitment to the fire and rescue services of the county.
By: Firefighter/NRAEMT Taylor Roby
Structure Fire in Grottoes Area
On February 14th at 1850 Harrisonburg Rockingham ECC dispatched Companies 20 (Grottoes) and 5 (Weyers Cave) along with Rescue 20 (Grottoes) to 8675 East Timber Ridge Rd. for the report of a residential structure fire. Chief 20 (A. Holloway) was first to respond and was advised, while enroute, that there were reports of fire showing from the second floor of the residence. With the additional information a tanker task force was added to the assignment due to the location of the residence in relation to a water source, the deteriorating road conditions due to snow falling at the time, and high wind from the snowstorm with gusts up to 31 mph. Chief 20 was first arrived and marked off with a 2 story cedar sided residence with fire showing from the second floor on side A and B, Chief 20 established command. After completing a 360 walk around command assigned Engine 203 (Grottoes) to perform a transitional attack and utilize the deck gun to knock down the fire on the second floor and then advance an 1¾ in. handline to the second floor. After the fire was knocked down from the exterior the crew from Engine 203 advanced to the second floor for a fire attack. Tanker 50 (Weyers Cave) arrived and supplied Engine 203, Engine 207 (Grottoes) arrived and was assigned to pull a back up line and assist with fire attack on the second floor. Engine 54 (Weyers Cave) arrived and was assigned to the first floor to check for extension and perform salvage operations. The fire was marked under control at 2030 and was contained to three rooms on the second floor and the attic space. Additional tankers from Company 15 (Bridgewater) and 40 (Hose Company #4) arrived on scene and assisted with water supply. Due to the aggressive transitional attack methods and hard work from all those involved a positive outcome was delivered.
Timberville First Department to Receive New Standardized SCBA
For the first time Rockingham County is working towards a standardized SCBA for all of the departments in the county. The first department that has received the new SCBA is the Timberville Volunteer Fire Company. Not only is Timberville the first in the county to place these new SCBA in service they are the first in the state to put the new MSA G1 SCBA in service. Timberville recently applied for an AFG grant to replace SCBA that were out of date according to the NFPA standards. At the same time Rockingham County Fire and Rescue (RCFR) was working towards standardizing the SCBAs for the entire county. When Chief Holloway presented the plan of replacement to the county’s board of supervisors they approved a replacement plan over 10 years to have a constant replacement of SCBA station by station throughout the county. Once this was approved RCFR began the selection process for the new SCBA and decided to go with the MSA G1. Since Timberville was already working towards obtaining these SCBA the county took over the financial responsibility remaining from their AFG grant and completed the purchasing process for Timberville. After the initial purchasing process was completed Timberville received the first round of SCBA and Hose Company #4 received the second round of the new SCBAs. Timberville completed their necessary training and familiarization in February and placed them on the apparatus. Chief Chris Coffman of Timberville VFC said that the department has enjoyed training on the new SCBA and is looking forward to using them in the field in the coming years. The ability to have everyone in the county on the same SCBA will enhance the safety and capability of each department in the county, and it shows the Board of Supervisors commitment to the fire and rescue services of the county.