Archives: Date in CHVFD History

Engine 52 Supplies Water to Multiple Units on 2 Alarm Fatal Fire

Just after midnight units were dispatched to a reported building fire in the Holy Hill Condominiums in the 7100 block of Donnell Place in Forestville. First in units found heavy fire conditions on all four (4) floors and requested the 2nd and 3rd alarms immediately. Engine 51 responded as the first due engine on the 2nd alarm. They laid the large diameter hose (LDH) and supplied multiple units with master streams. Once the fire was knocked down one fatality was discovered in the terrace level apartment.

Mass Casualty Support Unit

Medical Care Support Unit 5 Placed in Service

Medical Care Support Unit 5 (MCSU5) was placed in service at the Capitol Heights Volunteer Department. This unit was purchased through an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant through the Washington Council of Governments (COG). The unit was designed to provide support at mass casualty or mass fatality incidents throughout the National Capital Region (NCR). This unit remained in operation until August 2009, when County Fire Chief Jones removed career staffing from the station and Truck 5, MCSU5 and Paramedic Ambulance 5 were either placed out of service or reassigned.

Alice Long Celebrates 100th Birthday, Made Honorary Firefighter

Alice Long, Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at the firehouse. During the party Alice was presented with a vintage leather fire helmet and bestowed the title of “Honorary Firefighter” for her 70 years of dedicated and faithful service to our department.

Alice Long Governor's Service Award

Alice Long Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Alice Long received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Governor Robert Ehrlich during National Volunteer Week for her 70 years of service to the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary.

Metro Support Unit

Metro Support Unit 5 Placed Out of Service

Metro Support Unit 5 (MSU5) was placed out of service, marking the end of an era. MSU5 was placed in service in 1985 and was purchased by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and equipped with forty (40) self-contained breathing apparatus, rated at one hour, for use in operating in the tunnels of the Metro Rapidrail System. This was one of three units within the entire Metro system and would respond to emergencies involving Metro in the entire Washington metropolitan area. Over time mass casualty supplies were added to the unit to make it more versatile.

CHVFD Completes Door-to-door Fire Prevention Activity

Volunteer and career personnel completed an 18 month project to go door-to-door to every residence in our primary response area handing out fire safety literature, checking and installing a smoke alarms or changing batteries as necessary. On November 8, 2006 Fire Chief Lawrence Sedgewick presented career and volunteer personnel from Capitol Heights with a Unit Citation for this project. Chief Sedgewick also presented a Unit Citation on behalf of Firehouse Magazine.

Engine 52

Engine 52 Returns to Quarters

Engine 52 returns from Emergency Vehicle Specialist (EVS) in Hagerstown, Maryland, where it spent several months out of service for an extensive rehabilitation project. The 1989 FMC pumper needed the rehabilitation efforts to extend it’s useful life while the department looked for ways to replace it. Engine 52 remains in active service today, as one the oldest front line pumpers in the County. The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department continues to seek grant funding for the replacement of this pumper. The pumper was dedicated to Treasurer Emeritus Ernest E. Moreland in 1989 at the department’s 75th anniversary banquet.

Truck 5 Responds to Courthouse Fire

Truck 5 responded to a 5 alarm fire at the Prince George’s County Courthouse in Upper Marlboro. The crew set up for ladder pipe operations and they flowed water for hours. Truck 5 was featured on the cover of Firehouse Magazine.

Founders' Circle 2004 - Magdalene Schmidt

Magdelene Schmidt Inducted into Founders’ Circle

CHVFD Ladies Auxiliary Past President and Past President of the Maryland State Fireman’s Association Ladies Auxiliary, Magdelene Schmidt was inducted into the Founders’ Circle at the Cranford-Graves Fire Services Building.