Interested in becoming part of our growing family?
Sterling Volunteer Fire Company is always looking for new members to help staff our fire trucks and/or perform basic administrative functions around the station. No experience necessary and all training is FREE. Our next new member orientation is Sunday 5/19/2013 at 7pm held at Fire Station 18 (46700 Middlefield Drive Sterling VA 20165). For more information e-mail membership@sterlingfire.org. Please bring two forms of ID, a letter of reference, and a recent copy or your DMV driving record to orientation, if possible. If you are under eighteen years old and desire to be a new member, we recommend you bring your parent/guardian and a copy of your recent school transcript with you. We look forward to meeting you!
New Member Orientation
2013 Cascades 10K Fire Chase and 911 fun run – UPDATED (4/30)
We are excited to host the 11th Annual Cascades 10K Fire Chase and 911 Fun Run on May 25th, 2013. The race will start at 8am, with the fun run immediately following, at the Lowe’s Island Community Center in Sterling, VA. It’s a great course set in Lowes Island and there are a lot of great prizes. As always, we will be providing food and entertainment. We will have all our fire trucks, rescue vehicles and the Office of Emergency Management Incident Command bus there for people to see in addition to sponsor tables. Dogs and strollers are welcome – we hope to see you there! To register, go to: cascades10k.com. You can also follow the excitement on Facebook on the Cascades 10K Fire Chase and 911 Fun Run page, and you can let your Facebook friends know you’re coming by signing up here. Hope to see you there!
Big news! We have a big name guest appearance this year for the race.
Susan Loken is a running coach based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. She started running when she was 35 years old, and, since, the 48-year-old has won the U.S. Masters Marathon Championships four times, has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials three times and has taken three consecutive titles at the New York City More Marathon. This elite runner has reached her goals and now wants to help others reach theirs. In the past six years, she has coached more than 800 runners to their goal of completing a half or full marathon through her organization Believe Train Become
Loken is a certified personal trainer (NPTI-Certified). She works as a coach and program director for Chances for Children – Arizona, where she leads fundraising running teams and helps develop programs for Arizona’s less-fortunate youth. She is also an ambassador for Lululemon Athletica.
She has three sons, a daughter-in-law, a step-son, a step-daughter, and one granddaughter. She has found a purpose in her passion for running – helping others.
If you don’t know Susan come out and meet her!
More news:
We will be hosting an after race party at Velocity 5! $10 for lunch (burgers and dogs etc) and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the SVFC.
SVRS Open House – Saturday, May 18th 12-3pm at DTC
Our sister organization, the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, will host their annual open house this Saturday, May 18th. The event will be held in the Dulles Town Center mall from 12-3pm. Visit their site for further details by clicking HERE.
National Police Week
The members of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company wish to recognize our “Brothers in Brown”, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, as they join law enforcement from around the nation for the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on May 15th, honoring those law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
House Fire for Crew 6
On Thursday, May 7th, just before 9:30pm, Tower 611 and Safety Officer 618 were dispatched to Arcola for a house fire. The first arriving units reported a fully involved house. They also were reporting that illegal dumping had closed the driveway and units were unable to easily access the structure. After an initial assessment units took a defensive posture, extinguishing the flames from outside using hoses deployed by hand. SO618 monitored operations while the Tower crew manned hose lines.
Mass Casualty Drill at Dulles Airport
On Sunday morning members from Sterling Fire joined firefighters from Dulles Airport and surrounding areas for a mass casualty drill. Airport personnel are constantly training for events like this, but often on their own. In the event of an actual disaster organizations from throughout the area will respond. The drill on Sunday gave everybody the opportunity to work together and practice the skills that may be required.
You can learn more in this report from WUSA9: Training for disaster at Dulles Airport. Watch the video to catch a glimpse of SVFC in action, along with others from Dulles Airport, Loudoun, and Fairfax county.
Sterling Fire at Apple Blossom
Although the SVFC didn’t officially participate in the Apple Blossom Firefighters’ Parade we were represented there. Many of our members attended as spectators. At least one of our members participated with another organization. Also present was an old Sterling Engine, now privately owned:
Busy shift for Crew 7
Post by: Jody Odom
Just after 6:30pm on Thursday, May 2nd, Engine 618, Tower 611, and Safety Officer 618 were alerted, along with units from Ashburn and Leesburg, for a commercial structure fire in Ashburn. Ashburn units arrived on the scene, established command, and reported an A/C unit fire that appeared to be out. Tower 611 remained on the scene to support this incident.
At nearly the same time, 6:35pm, Wagon 611 and Captain 611 were alerted for an inside gas leak in Sterling. At 7:07pm, Safety Officer 618 responded to a report of a structure fire in Leesburg. At 7:11pm, Engine 618 was dispatched to an auto accident at Ashburn Village and Harry Byrd Highway. There were no injuries; however, Engine 618 remained on the scene for an hour to block traffic and provide lights for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after returning to service Engine 618 and SVRS Ambulance 6251 responded to a public service call.
At 10:51pm Safety Officer 618 responded to a report of an oven fire in Ashburn.
At 1:53am Engine 618, Captain 611, Safety Officer 618, and Tower 611, along with Rescue Squad 615, Ambulance, 6253, and Medic 6151 from SVRS, responded to the report of a vehicle in a stream/ditch with the possible entrapment. Engine 618 arrived to find a sedan had collided head on into the opposite bank of a large ditch with one unconscious person in the driver’s seat. Engine 618, Tower 611, and Rescue Squad 615 stabilized the vehicle and gained access to assess the patient. The patient was rapidly extracted then handed over to SVRS for further evaluation and transport to the hospital. Units returned to service and turned the scene over to LCSO. Shortly after this call wrapped up, at 3:09am, Wagon 611 was dispatched to a medical call.
Crew 7′s 12 hour shift ended at 6am when the LCFR career staff began their 12 hour day shift.
Multiple auto accidents for Crew 3
Just after 8:30pm Engine 618 and Ambulance 625 (SVRS) were alerted for an auto accident near Costco in Sterling. As they were responding Engine 611 was dispatched along with Trauma 625 for a second auto accident near station 618. Tower 611 had just departed station 618 and responded to the initial accident, allowing Engine 618 to take the closer accident. Engine 611 diverted to the initial accident with Tower 611. Both accidents were two vehicle accidents with minor injuries. While Engine and Tower 611 were working the accident near Costco motorists reported another accident a few blocks away. Engine 611 remained with the initial accident and Tower 611 went to investigate the third reported accident. They found a three vehicle accident with minor injuries spread out over 200 feet of roadway. Amblulance 615 was dispatched to the 3rd accident, and additional law enforcement was requested to help safely manage traffic over such a large scene.
Engine 618 on the scene
Volkswagen donates three Passats to SVFC
Volkswagen, via Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles, donated three brand new Passats to the SVFC. These were new cars that could not be sold to the public and are typically recycled or donated to schools and training facilities. The SVFC is excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with Volkswagen. These Volkswagens will provide a rare and valuable opportunity for our first responders to gain first-hand knowledge training with modern cars, their modern construction, and safety equipment.
See other photos from the donation ceremony here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sterlingfire/sets/72157633176716654/
Read about the ceremony via the Washington Post by clicking HERE.