Sterling Volunteer Fire Company

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company wants to remind you that Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 14th. At 02:00am clocks should be reset to 03:00am (“spring forward”). When you reset your clocks it is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO detectors. Smoke detectors should be tested regularly and the batteries replaced twice a year to ensure they always have enough power to sound the alarm should it be needed. Be sure to test it after the new batteries are installed. While you’re changing the batteries check for a manufacture or install date on the detector. Most smoke detectors have a maximum functional life of 10 years, so you may want to consider replacing the entire detector if it’s approaching that age. If you are unsure about the age replace the unit with a new one. If you have questions or require assistance please contact us (via our non-emergency number) and we will be happy to help you remain safe.

On Sunday recruit firefighters from Loudoun County began the fire portion of their recruit school. After completing the EMS training (either First Responder or EMT-B), they will now move on to “fire school” where they’ll earn both Firefighter I and II, and other related certifications. The first day is usually the Consumption Test. Recruits are taught how to properly wear and operate in their gear and are required to preform a variety of physically demanding tasks, consuming all the air in their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Recruits are also sent through a maze to help them learn how to operate in unfamiliar environments with limited visibility. Portions of the maze are intentionally confining and have features designed to make passage difficult. Recruits must become proficient in operating in difficult, uncomfortable, and stressful circumstances. SVFC Associate David Payne has posted his photos from the day here.

Twitter users can follow us @SterlingFire and keep up with us as we answer calls in the community. Our Twitter feed also appears on our website. You may also want to follow @LoudounFire to see what’s going on in the rest of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue system, or @LoudounSheriff to see what the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is doing.

At 05:17 on Sunday morning, just before the end of a 23 hour shift, Engine and TowerLadder 611 were alerted for an inside gas leak between Sterling and Ashburn. About 10 minutes later Tanker 618, along with Reserve Engine 606, Engine 622, and TowerLadder 606 from Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Wagon 601 from Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, Rescue Squad 439 from Fairfax, Ambulance 615 from Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Battalion 602 from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue were alerted for a townhouse fire in Countryside. Captain 611 responded from Sterling, as did Quint 611 and Battalion 401 from Fairfax. As units were responding Engine and TowerLadder 611 were released from the inside gas leak call and responded to the townhouse fire. Tanker 618 arrived on scene and reported visible fire through the roof. After checking the rear of the structure the Tanker crew began an interior attack while Squad 439 began searching the structure to make sure all occupants were out safely. Arriving crews assisted in attacking the fire and checked neighboring townhomes to make sure that the fire wasn’t spreading. The fire was knocked down in about 10 minutes and crews continued to perform overhaul, making sure that the fire hadn’t spread and was completely extinguished. Chief 611 responded to assist command, and Canteen 611 also responded to provide refreshments to units operating in 10 degree weather.

The Loudoun County government is activating the Loudoun County Major Event Hotline for people who have non-emergency questions related to the record-setting snowstorm and the significant storm that is expected to arrive shortly.

The hotline, 703-737-8300, is intended for non-emergency calls. The hotline will be active throughout the current snow event. As always, people should call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Also, the county website has links to helpful storm-related information at www.loudoun.gov/snow.

As the Sterling area is digging out from some extraordinary snow falls this weekend, we would would like to remind everyone to remember to dig out your nearest fire hydrant as well as your sidewalk and driveway. Hydrants can be easily buried by plow trucks and nobody wants to watch the fire department shovel snow to find a hyrdant when there is a real fire emergency.

On Thursday, January 28th, the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Training Center held a graduation ceremony to recognize those who completed Firefighter I, Firefigter II, or EMT during the Fall 2009 session. As usual the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company was well represented. All of these classes take many hours (around 20 hours a week, for 3-6 months) of classroom lectures, training evolutions, and study and practice time away from class. Congratulations and thanks to all the students, instructors, and their friends and families for their support. SVFC members recognized were:

Firefighter 1-2 Certification School
Terry Canela
Ali Chohan
Trey Dean
Travis DeBorde
Chris DeVaughn
Jesse Flores
Chris Horne
Jared Miller
Philip Schoepfle
Mark Zegarra
**Patrick Smith (injured during final testing; retest imminent)

Firefighter 2
Dan Vlach

EMT Basic
Dee Cunningham
Bobby Halouska
Kirk Picou

Every graduation LCFR recognizes individuals as the “top student” of their class. For the Fall 2009 graduates Sterling Fire is extremely proud to have brought home three such awards. Congratulations go to Terry Canela and Trey Dean who share the honor for the Firefighter I-II class, and to Dee Cunningham who received this award for EMT-Basic.

The Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office offer winter weather safety tips that will help keep you safe during a winter storm.

Remember to dig out your hydrants!

Follow this link for the details.

On Saturday, January 23 the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company members, friends, family, and guests gathered for our annual Officer Installation Banquet. Following an opening prayer by Chaplain Charlie Grant and a meal catered by Outback Steakhouse our guest speaker, Chief Glenn A. Gaines of the U. S. Fire Administration spoke briefly about the future of the fire service and the USFA. Chief Gaines is also a Loudoun County resident and served for over 40 years in Fairfax County, starting as a volunteer firefighter and ending his 37 years with the Fire and Rescue Department as Chief. We appreciate Chief Gaines agreeing to speak on very short notice after our original guest speaker was deployed to Haiti. We then recognized some outstanding members of the department by presenting Firefighter Bobby Halouska with Recruit Firefighter of the Year, Technician Andy Brown with Firefighter of the Year, Lieutenant Bill Graham with Officer of the Year, and Chris Newcomer with Administrative Member of the Year. Congratulations to you all, and thanks to everybody for continued dedication to the community and the SVFC. The official program ended with the swearing in of the elected and appointed officers for 2010, followed by a closing prayer by Chaplain Grant. The SVFC would especially like to thank our friends and family whose support and dedication allow us to serve the community, enduring frequent absences, interrupted plans, and thrilling stories about fire alarms and EMS calls. We also extend our thanks to the members of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company,the Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company, and the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Company for staffing Engine and TowerLadder 611, Tanker 618, and Command 611 and protecting the citizens of Sterling while we enjoyed a night off.

Photo courtesy of: Berl Jones

Chief Gaines addressing the banquet