LVRS - June 2006

June 2006

Stormy Weather Hits the DC Area

Water Rescue in Bowie

Monday 26 June - At1643 the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad Water Rescue Team was alerted for a "Male Stuck in the Tree due to the High Water" in the 17000-blk of Governor Bridge Road. Chief 43A arrived on scene to discover a citizen who had ventured out into the swift moving water. After quickly being overcome by the swift current, the citizen was able to cling to a tree approximately 100 yards from shore. Upon arrival the crew from Water Rescue 49 deployed with members from Technical Rescue 22 serving as the back up team. Upon reaching the citizen, who was very tired and cold, the crew pulled him from the water and quickly brought him ashore. Part of the rescue was captured by WJZ TV from Baltimore (http://wjz.com/video/?id=19056@wjz.dayport.com). Units from 49, including C49 & C49A, operated on the scene until approximately 1830.

This brought to over 90 the total number of citizens that LVRS brought to safety as a result of the rain and high waters in the 72 hours.

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photos courtesy of Dale Klonin - Station 49

Special Thanks to Station 14

Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad would like to thank Chief Fusco and the members of Berwyn Heights for loaning us their Zodiac boat after Boat 49-1 was damaged during one of Sunday's Water Rescues in Montgomery County (see below). It really made a difference having it.

Mutual Aid to Montgomery County - Continued

Sunday 25 June, continued - Assited MCFRS with the removal of approx 60 persons from flooded houses and streets from both sides of East West Highway and 28th Ave. DU49 and DU56, Engines from Mont County,Co34, T7 and units from Emergency Management Support. Units on the scene for approximately 5 hours.

Mutual Aid to Montgomery County

Sunday 25 June - Assited MCFRS with the removal of approx 30 persons rescued from a flooded picnic area. Montgomery County units from Cabin John, in addition to PG TR22 / SQ22 and DU49 responded to the call for help. Unfortunately, Boat 49-1 (the Zodiac) was damaged during the rescue effort. All members and rescuees are safe.

Boat 49 Gets a Lift!

On Saturday, June 17, 2006, LVRS' Water Rescue Team was alerted to provide assistance to an incident that had occurred the previous evening on the Potomac River. On Friday evening, a passing boater had come across a bass boat circling near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with the motor running and no one on board. One of the three passengers was located nearby clinging to to a marker buoy. After search that evening, the call went into to a recovery mode the next morning, and LVRS was requested to provide assistance. After almost a full day of searching using side-scan sonar aboard multiple vessels, crews Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department's Companies 22, 47, 49, and 56, as well as Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, and Charles County Dive/Rescue located the two victims. LVRS divers completed the recovery of the two victims and transferred the two victims to the investigating agencies.

While these victim recovery incidents never have the outcome we would hope for, we do provide an essential service to the law enforcement agencies, and even more importantly by beginning to provide closure to the families and friends of the victims.

One unique aspect to this call was the launch method used for Boat 49 (the 19' Boston Whaler). Due to all the construction ongoing at the new development of National Harbor and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge there was no easy access to launch the boat in the immediate area. Thanks to some helpful and experienced construction workers on site, they made quick work of slinging the boat up over and and gently placed the boat in the water for us. Their 50 ton crane, usually used to lift immense pieces of the new bridge span, was more than up to the task of launching Boat 49. It remains to be seen whether we'll be able to "Special" this
to all future water rescue calls, but it sure would make life a lot easier!

Photos by Rich Takacs.
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She's Back On The Road

The Rescue is back in Laurel. After being O.O.S. for accident damage repair and a list of other repairs for eight months. The Rescue was placed back in service a couple of weeks ago. Once in the station and all the equipment was cleaned, repaired and placed she was given a bumper to bumper cleaning and placed in service. The Chiefs and members of the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad would like to thank Nathen from AMD and Steve Beavers and his guys with Delmarva Fire Apparatus for there excellent work and patience with the damage repairs and light bars. Also all the other many vendors afterward. We would also like to thank the Richie Volunteer Fire Department, Riverdale Heights Volunteer Fire department and the many others that let us use their second Engines during this time. (Volunteers Helping Volunteers)