Another year is in the books for the Officers and Members at the Hyattsville VFD. This year, our apparatus and personnel responded to over 5,000 runs for service to the citizens of Hyattsville and its surrounding areas. 2008 brought new members to the department as well as a more traditional Hyattsville Truck 1 with the delivery of our Seagrave Tractor Drawn Aerial.

We're expecting 2009 to be another great year for the HVFD with the delivery of a new Rescue Squad 1 made possible in part by The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and many events planned such as our annual open house and our HVFD Comedy Fundraiser.

Engine -- 1,214

Truck -- 529

Squad -- 559 OOS 11/3/08

Ambo -- 2,848

Total -- 5,150

At 1047 hours as the Truck was backing into quarters the first due box was struck for 3205 Toledo Pl for the building fire. Engine 12 and Truck 1 responded with a total of 10 personnel. Truck 1 arrived with light smoke showing from the roof line of a 3 story apartment building.

At 0953 hours Truck 1 was dispatched to 5622 Lafayette PL in Co. 9’s first due for the building fire. Engine 94 arrived and found a 1 story warehouse with smoke showing. Truck 1 arrived as the second due Truck and preformed the secondary and ventilation for the interior crews. The fire was knocked quickly with minimum extension and searches came up negative. Truck 1 cleared at 1032 hours.

At 1246 hours Engine 12 was dispatched to 4602 Queensbury Rd for the house fire. Co. 7 arrived to find a 2 ½ story house with fire showing. Engine 12 arrived with their own hydrant and stretched the 300ft line to back up Engine 72. Crews knocked all the fire on the first floor while the fire advanced through the walls to the attic. The Truck crews opened up for the interior crews and remained on scene until 1411 hours.

Courtesy of Firehouseguy

At 2108 hours Engine 12 and Truck 1 were dispatched to 6407 54th Ave for the house fire in Co.13’s first due. As units arrived the found a 2 story house with fire throughout and attempted an aggressive offensive attack.

Courtesy of Firehouseguy

Truck 1 took RIT, as the driver and tillerman were requested to open up the roof and exterior of the building. After an aggressive push on the fire crews were forced to evacuate and go defensive. The Engine stretched a line to side Charlie and knocked the fire from the exterior. Crews remained on scene for over 4 hours hitting hot spots and opening up before being released at 0105 hours.

At 1823 hours, the second alarm was struck for 9309 19th Ave bringing Truck 1 to the scene. After staging for 5 minutes the Truck with 4 personnel was requested to side Alpha.

After maneuvering over curbs and between cars the Truck got perfect positioning on side Alpha. The Interior crew opened up the whole first floor as fire was throughout the walls and ceiling on all three floors.

The outside crew teamed up with Truck 14 on the roof and ended up cutting multiple holes. Crews on the roof were faced with zero visibility and about 10 inches of roofing material to cut through before actually making the vent hole. Truck 1 remained on scene till 2027 hours doing overhaul on all floors.

On Friday November 21, 2008, members of the Grasonville, MD Volunteer Fire Department came to Hyattsville to take possession of Rescue Squad 1. After 14 years and approximately 130,000 miles, the 1993 Pierce Lance Rescue Squad was officially retired from the Hyattsville fleet.

Originally placed in service as Metro Support Unit 1 on February 14, 1994; this version of RS1 marked the return to rescue squad service to Hyattsville for the first time since 1960. Of interest, another HVFD Rescue Squad body also saw service in Grasonville, West Lanham Hills VFD utilized Squad 1's body and sold it to Grasonville years later.

The HVFD is planning delivery of the new Rescue Squad in February, 2009. The new unit is a Pierce Arrow XT with a 28’ stainless steel walk-in body, Amkus Ultimate System, Hydraulic Generator and Cat Diesel engine. This unit is being purchased utilizing an Assistance to Firefighters Grant funding. Modifications to the fire station have already been completed to house the new vehicle in our rather tight quarters.

At 0030 hours Engine 12 and Truck 1 were dispatched to 3708 37th St in 55’s first due for the house fire. While in responding with 13 personnel, units from the 4th battalion were advised by Communications of numerous calls and unsure of the correct address. Truck 9 arrived with a 2 story house with heavy fire throughout. Engine 12 as the second due Engine arrived first and laid dual lines while placing the first line in the exposure B building which had moderate fire showing from the ridgeline.

Truck 1 arrived and was held up on the porch by Command in the rear because of heavy fire conditions. After the main body on side Alpha was knocked, Command went to a defensive operation. Truck 1’s crew then assisted the Engine in the exposure before opening up side Charlie of the fire building. Multiple lines were pulled for Engine 12 in attempt to knock the fire. After about 30 minutes of defensive operations the crews from 9 and 1 went inside to open up walls and to knock the remaining pockets of fire. Crews remained on scene till 0320 hours for overhaul before being released. Searches were negative, and the extension to the Bravo building was limited

At 1522 hours Engine 12 and Truck 1 were alerted to 3105 Madison St in our first due for the house fire. Truck 1 arrived with a 2 story house with smoke showing. The homeowner reported a fire in the basement with rear access. Truck 1's crew located the fire while the Engine stretched the line. The fire was knocked quickly without extension and all searches were negative. Crews remained on scene for overhaul and investigators until 1628 hours.

At 1435 hours Truck 1 was dispatched to 4003 Volta St in Co 55's first due for the house fire. Engine 551 arrived with fire showing from the second floor of a 2 story residential house. Truck 1 arrived and assumed the first due responsibilities and started the search, threw 6 ground ladders and cut the roof. Truck 1 encountered heavy fire on the second floor as Engine 551 was making the knock on the fire. Both primary and secondary searches were negative and extension was limited to the walls on the second floor. Truck 1 remained on scene for overhaul and investigators until 1621 hours.