On Thursday, September 28, The engine and ambulance crews were busy into the early morning responding to three fires. Even before dinner, Engine 511 had already been dispatched to a fire in Gainesville and then been placed in service en route by units on scene. After winding their way back to Sudley, they pulled into a local pizzeria and ordered dinner, only to receive a call for a first due fire at a nearby middle school.

They hurried out to the engine, threw on their gear, spun up the lights and sirens, and arrived on the scene to find a haze wafting from a classroom trailer. While the officer sized up the situation, the firefighter stretched a hose line. Realizing that the 200 foot line was not long enough to reach the trailer, the firefighter swiftly grabbed an extra piece of hose and extended the line to get to the fire.

Meanwhile, Rescue 521 and Tower 501 arrived to help overhaul the building and ensure that the fire was fully extinguished. Ambulance 511 set up “rehab” at the scene to make sure that all personnel were hydrated and presented good vital signs before clearing the scene.

After breaking down the hose line and putting away their gear, Engine 511 remained on scene to assist the fire marshal. Around 2200, the engine returned to Station 11 to enjoy the cold dinner that the ambulance crew had brought back for them. Few meals are as tasty as a dinner after helping extinguish a fire!

After dinner, the engine crew double checked their unit and went to bed. At 0248, the tones sounded again, and Engine 511 rolled out to a fire in Haymarket. While responding, the crew paid close attention to the radio traffic of the units arriving and learned that heavy fire was showing from the back of a middle-row townhouse. Facing these conditions, command on scene called for a second alarm, and additional units were requested to contain the blaze and help responders, including Ambulance 511.

Engine 511 arrived fifth to the scene and deployed a fourth hose line to help contain the fire and protect the adjacent town homes. As the fire subsided, the crew was reassigned to perform overhaul and ensure the fire was extinguished. After completing their assignment, the crew visited Ambulance 511 in rehab. Once the engine crew’s vitals were cleared, they cleaned the soot off their gear and headed back to the station with just enough time for a nap before the shift was over at 0600.