As the day was winding down at 16:23hrs units were dispatched to the reported motorcycle versus car accident in the 10000 block of W. Airport Blvd. Upon arrival of Car #1 (Di Camillo) 2-subjects were found down in the roadway with a 3rd still inside the 4-door car. Upon confirming a decreased level of consciousness and significant trauma of 1-rider and the unresponsive nature of the 2nd, an additional FBCEMS Medic Unit was requested along with Engine 21 (Taylor), just clearing a car fire, as well as an Air Medical Provider. Upon arrival of Quint 22 (Mc Gilbery) patient care was begun on both patients with Medic #10 while Engine 21 provided patient care to the driver of the car along with Medic #4. With all personnel committed to patient care, Engine 32 (Horsak) and Battalion 31 (Ybarra/Wheeler) were requested for Landing Zone responsibilities. Upon arrival of Memorial Herman Life Flight 6 patient care was transferred with the aircraft safely departing shortly therafter for the Level I Trauma Center in the Texas Medical Center while Medic #4 and Medic #10 each transported patients to the Level III Trauma Center at Memorial Herman Southwest Hospital. Following picking-up and assisting Stafford PD, all units returned to service shortly after 17:00hrs.

The cause of the accident is under invesitgation by the Stafford Police Department.

As the week drew to a close an update on the new Engine 21 and Engine 22 was provided by Pierce. Both have had their cabs, pump modules and bodies installed with componenents and option content being added now. Anticipated completion date for both is the end of May, about 1-1/2 months ahead of schedule.

Congrats to Fire Fighter Jessica Yell on graduation from the University of Texas School of Nursing on May 4th with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). Following state certification testing Jessica will officially be a Registred Nurse following in the footsteps of her mother, a long-time trauma and OR nurse.

Congrats again to Jessica.

Congrats to Fire Fighter Jon Lopez and wife Stacy on the birth of their daughter Avery. Born at 10:03hrs, Avery measured 7lbs 9ozs and 19 7/8". Avery and mom are doing well.

Congrats again to Jon, Stacy and Avery. 

Last week the department received word from the manufacturer that the new booster is ahead of schedule with main body fabrication completed. Next step is the completion of the body components and then attaching of the body to the chassis.

Pictures show the recently completed body and riding positions each side with their attached safety gates.

At 04:45hrs units were dispatched as part of the SLFD box for the reported kitchen fire on Wellington Ct. in the Sugar Creek Subdivision. While units were responding first arriving SLPD units advised of a nearly fully-involved house with exposure problems. Upon arrival of Ladder 2 (Immel) a size-up of heavy fire from a 1-story SFD was given and command established on Side "A". With heavy fire rolling out of Side "A" and thru the roof, as well as an increasing exposure problem on Side "B", command declated the incident defensive and companies transitioned to covering the "B" exposure and setting-up the ladder pipe of Ladder 2 as well as the arriving Ladder 4 (Munster). Upon arrival of Quint 22 (Harlow) the assignment of R.I.T. was given with the company setting up on the "A/D" corner of the structure. With fire now involving the majority of the structure, and companies making little headway due to water supply issues with area hydrants, companies began to rotate assignments with Quint 22 reporting to Side "C" for fire attack duties upon shut-down of ladder pipe operations. Upon relieving Engine 3 (Bayes) the crew was able to enter the structure and make headway on ground level fire before attic involvement, inaccessible from their vantage point, caused them to be withdrawn. Following knocking down the bulk of the heavy fire units began to be released with Quint 22 returning to service at approximately 06:30hrs and Battalion 21 (Mc Gilbery), assigned as the Accountability Officer, returning shortly after 07:00hrs.  

At 22:08hrs units were dispatched to the reported fire in the kitchen of the residence in the 11500 block of Scottsdale. Upon arrival of #9 (Bomberger) a size-up of heavy smoke from a 2-story SFD was given and command established on Side "A". Upon arrival of Engine 23 (G. Yell) a 2" handline was stretched thru the garage where fire was found to be involving the kitchen  and dining area and extending into the den area of Division 1. With Ladder 2 establishing a water supply and going to Division 2 to check for extension, Squad 23 performed a primary search with negative findings as Quint 22 assumed R.I.T. responsibilities as their Chauffeur placed ground ladders. With the fire knocked down quickly and negative extension found, PPV was initiated and the incident placed under control. During the incident Battalion 21 (Court) was assigned as the Accountability Officer and #2 (Burns) the Incident Safety Officer assignment. Following overhaul and completion of the investigation all units returned to service at 00:43hrs.

Notable with this incident was this was the first opportunity to utilize the recently placed in service Grace Electronic Accountability System. This system, utilizing an electronic T-PASS device on each SCBA communicating with the lap top computer in Battalion 21, allows two-way communication between the wearer and Accountability Officer with the push of a button(s) on the T-PASS. The features of this system include the ability to transmit a PAR check to all personnel on the fire ground as well as well as the ability to transmit an evacuation order for all personnel on the emergency scene in addition to traditional PASS device features. This system, with an approximate cost of $60,000.00 per department, was provided for all Fort Bend County Fire Departments with a UASI grant thru both Fort Bend and Harris Counties.

 

On Wednesday, April 4th the construction of the "new" Engine 21 and Engine 22 is slated to begin. Both pumpers, being built one behind the other by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin, are slated to have cab construction begin this day followed by body construction a week or so later. The pumpers are each being built on an Impel chassis with TAK-4 suspension, 2000GPM single-stage pump, Husky Class "A" foam system, 3-crosslays, 1-front trashline, 2-1/2" apartment lay, Elkhart remote control deckgun with the aluminum body featuring roll-up doors, pull-out trays, pull-out vertical tool boards and swing out compartment boards among the features.

Slated to arrived mid to late June, both will feature a black roof over a red cab identical to the recently returned Quint 22.

During a relatively quiet night at 02:00hrs units were dispatched as part of the MCFRS box for the reported residential structure fire in the 3100 block of Cypress Point. Originally dispatched as a single-engine response for the reported smell of smoke, upon arrival of Quint 33 (Gooch) smoke was evident from the eaves of 2-story SFD and the assignment upgraded. Upon arrival of Quint 22 (Gutierrez) the assignment of Primary Search was given, and completed, with negative findings. Following a small break, Quint 22 assumed Salvage Group and upon completion of this assignment, and assisiting Quint 31 with re-loading 5" hose, all units returned to service at 03:36hrs.

Congrats to Station #2 Lieutenant Jeff Brownson and wife Ashley on the birth of the first child, Hailey Marie Brownson. Born today at 14:41hrs Hailey Marie weighed in at 6lbs 2oz and measured 18".

Both baby and mom are doing well...and dad too.

Congrats again to the Brownson Family.

On this day members of the department apparatus committee headed off to the San Antonio Metro area to meet with representatives of Siddons Apparatus to review the specs of the departments first booster, or off-road brush fire fighting apparatus. During the course of the 5-hour meeting a number of modifications and changes were made to the design to make the unit as functional as possible while being as maintenance free as possible.

The main components include a Ford F350 4X4 extra-cab chassis, 40" kevlar super-single tires, steel frame / aluminum flat-bed body with 1-tool compartment per side, Hale gasoline powered 200GPM pump, 290 gallon booster tank with 10 gallons of Class "A" foam, FoamPro 1600 Class "A" foam system, 1-riding position per side with 8' whip lines, 150' 1-3/4" pre-connect, 100' booster reel, removable receiver winch, all Whelen LED warning equipment and 3-Whelen LED floodlights among the other features of the unit.

Currently the aluminum body is under construction with the chassis having just been received at the local Ford dealership. Anticipated completion date is May 18th with delivery to the department within approximately a week of completion.

  

In conjunction with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the area fire departments where advised of a pending "no-notice technical rescue drill" that would occur sometime between the middle of February and the end of March with the intent being to exercise the dispatch notification system, deployment of team resources and the ability to meet tactical objectives for an actual TRT incident. During the time after being advised of the drill, and as a member department of the Fort Bend County Technical Rescue Team, personnel refreshed themsevles with associated equipment and waited for the drill to be "dispatched". At just before 04:30hrs the Stafford Communications Center received the call advising of an explosion in the El Campo Hospital in Wharton County with a structural collapse as a result of a criminal act. Following policy as the notification agency for all FBCTRT resources, Stafford Communications dispatched Stafford FD resources and notified member departments of the incident including additional information as it was received. Within 20 minutes of dispatch Rescue 23 and Squad 23, towing the TRT Gator and heavy rigging equipment, were enroute south to the drill site in conjunction with the TRT assets of the Richmond FD, Rosenberg FD and Missouri City FD. With a change of location to a staging point at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) office in Pierce, Texas all resources reported in and received a briefing from the area DPS Disaster District Coordinator (DDC). With Battalion 21 (Mills) functioning as Task Force Leader, resources moved up the formal staging area at El Campo Jr. High School where, after staging for a lengthy time, were called in to the "scene". Upon arrival the TF assessed the scene and began shoring operations in conjunction with the Harris County TRT contingent from the Baytown FD. Following completion of the assignment, and a "hot wash" review, all units demobed and headed back to their respective jurisdictions with all Stafford FD units being back in the city by 16:00hrs.

Despite some logistical aspects of the drill scenario itself, the exercise  proved valuable as the first TRT drill since the formation of the team. Personnel from all departments worked exceptionally well for a common goal and like the concept theorized, proved the worth of the team.

Photos by Lt G. Yell.

At 01:55hrs units were dispatched on the MCFRS box for the reported structure fire in the 1900 block of Dolver Ct. Upon arrival of Quint 33 (Butler) heavy fire was reported on Division 2 and in the attic of a 2-story SFD. With fire conditions extending thru the roof, and limited progress being made on the interior as well as exposure problems developing, Battalion 31 (Braswell) withdrew all personnel and commenced ladder pipe operations with Quint 31's aerial. Upon arrival of Engine 23 (Berg) the crew was assigned, along with Quint 31 (Sabrsula), to report to Division 2 to open up with the shutdown of ladder pipe operations. Following extensive opening up and hitting of hot spots throughout Division 2 Engine 23 returned to service at 03:42hrs upon returning to the city. During the fire Car #1 (Di Camillo) functioned as the Inident Safety Officer.

Minutes before 03:00hrs units were dispatched to the 12700 block of the Southwest Freeway for the reported motor vehicle accident with people trapped and vehicles on fire. Arriving less than 30 seconds after dispatch Lieutenant J. Brownson advised of a 2-car MVA with people trapped and fire involving the auto. Using a portable extinguisher from his truck Lt. Brownson was able to keep fire involvement from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle until the arrival of Engine 21. Upon arrival of Engine 21 (Ortega) the crew of 5 split stretching the the trash line to knock down the fire while the remainder of the crew placed the Holmatro spreaders into operation to open the drivers door of the auto. Upon arrival of Squad 21 (Garvey) the crew was directed to provide care to the driver of the SUV who had self-extricated and presented lying on the freeway. Following transfer of patient care and transport by FBCEMS Medic #7, fire department units stood by until completion of the accident investigation. Following completion of the accident investigation personnel completed extrication operations on the auto with the assistance of Battalion 21 (D. Ricks), Quint 22 (Mc Gilbery), EMS-22 (Harlow) and Squad 23 (Parker). Following completion of operations all fire department units returned to service at 07:00hrs.

Shortly before 19:00hrs units were dispatched for the reported vehicle fire in the area of 10700 Corporate Dr. As Engine 23 (Berg) was responding additional information was received of multiple vehicles on fire and possibly a building. With the incident re-dispatched as a structure fire, Engine 23 arrived on scene and reported a box style truck heavily involved as well as a 2nd larger box delivery truck also involved, both less than 5' from a commercial building. With Engine 23 stretching on the one truck, Engine 21 (Ramirez Sr.) arrived and stretched on the 2nd truck while Ladder 2 forced entry into the commercial building to check for extension. Upon arrival of Quint 22 (J. Brownson) the crew assisted with opening up the rear of the trucks as well as providing tank water to Engine 21. Upon knockdown of the fire, and negative extension found, the incident was placed under control and a fire investigator requested. Following assisting investigators all units returned to service shortly after 20:00hrs.

The cause is under investigation by the Stafford Fire Marshal's Office.