Three children, all in respiratory or cardiac arrest, were pulled from a burning Southeast Washington apartment this morning. The District of Columbia Fire & EMS Department reports all three are alive and being treated at Children’s Hospital.
The call came in at 6:14 this morning from a resident of Apartment 306 at 1920 Naylor Road, SE. The first arriving crews from Engine 15 and Rescue Squad 3 headed to the third floor, but soon discovered the fire was one floor below in Apartment 206.
Security camera video from the building shows a woman trying to get into that apartment as smoke began filling the second floor hallway. Firefighters soon arrived. Capt. Bernard Holt of Rescue Squad 3 says no one in the hallway told the firefighters there were children in Apartment 206.
As Engine 15 extinguished a fire in the kitchen of the apartment, the crew from the rescue squad began searching the rest of the apartment. Firefighters J.C. Carroll and Charles Ryan were joined by Engine 15’s Mike Huskins as the three children were found in a bedroom. Firefighter Carroll tells STATter911.com that two of the children were on the bed and one was on the floor. Firefighter Huskins wrapped a sheet around one of the children to protect her from the heat as all three were taken out the apartment door and into the lobby.
This is a combination of video captured by two security cameras at 1920 Naylor Road, SE. One is on the ground floor by the center stairwell and the other is in the same position one floor up and down the hall from Apartment 206. I have edited the videos together in general chronological order based on visual clues, but the videos are not matched exactly by time.
Firefighters Pete Bagdovitz and Jeff Carroll aboard Ambulance 15 took all three children into their unit, the only ambulance on the scene. A decision was made to make an immediate transport with the help of the rescue squad crew to Children’s Hospital rather than wait for ALS units that had recently been requested by Battalion Chief Edwin Pearson, the incident commander.
A few blocks from the apartment building, Captain Cee Cee Wilson, an EMS supervisor, met up with Ambulance 15 and hopped aboard to provide ALS treatment for the youngest of the children, who was in cardiac arrest.
Capt. Wilson said all three were breathing when Ambulance 15 arrived at the hospital. The children are a five year-old boy, a two-year-old girl and a six-month-old girl.
DC fire officials say the father had gone to work just before 6:00 AM. He had asked a neighbor to check in on his children. Sources say the woman seen on security camera video, using a key to try and get into the apartment, is that neighbor from down the hall.
Fire investigators say it appears a burner on the gas stove had been left on and ignited combustible material. DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Pete Piringer reports there was no working smoke detector in Apartment 206.
The other firefighters who were part of Rescue Squad 3 on this call were Mike Deavers, Charlie Williams and Mike Rabaoitti. Lt. Lee Havens was in charge of Engine 15, which also included Derek Graham, Jimmy Hill and Benjamin Driscoll. Driscoll is a probationary firefighter and this was his first fire with the DC Fire & EMS Department.
Also on STATter911 …
- Quick Takes – February 4, 2010
- Fireground audio from 4-alarm fire in Montgomery County, MD. Tuesday evening blaze damages Aspen Hill apartment building. Listen to timely order to evacuate roof. – December 29, 2009
- Fireground audio & raw video from close call at double fatal Fairfax County house fire. One injury to firefighter after floor collapse. – January 26, 2010
- The inside view of the first USAR save in Haiti. Close-up video as Virginia Task Force 1 rescues security guard at UN building. STATter911.com has a conversation with a task force leader in Port-au-Prince. – January 18, 2010
Great Job 3rd Batt. Units!
Nice job DC Fire!
As an aside, I have noticed from many pictures/videos I’ve seen recently including the news footage from this incident that many guys are leaving their airpack waist straps unfastened. Is this a local thing? A speed thing? Just not deemed necessary by people?
Great Great Job!! This is another example of why the DC Fire Department is so effective. Firehouses close by, effective SOGs and proper staffing on the apparatus. I hope the politicians are paying attention. This makes it all worth it.
Great Great Job!! This is another example of why the DC Fire Department is so effective. Firehouses close by, effective SOGs and proper staffing on the apparatus. I hope the politicians are paying attention. This makes it all worth it.
Great Job guys!!! Good decision making about the grab and go!
It looks cool not wearing your waist strap. All the cool kids wear their packs this way. It’s not like it helps keep the weight of the pack off your shoulders & reduce fatigue and help secure the pack to your body so it doesn’t fall off or anything. Just another annoyance to try to remember to do when getting off the rig. Sorta like hoods and actually putting on your face piece in an IDLH environment.
That said, great job guys.
Excellent job guys. Someone ought to put these guys in for a citation. They deserve it.
Ok, right place at the right time for the grabs. Good Job.
But seriously, if anyone in their right mind thinks from the security camera footage that things went smoothly, gimme a dang break.
1. If it is a departments SOG to allow a civilian/s to watch FD operations commence without being ordered or phyically removed from the fire building then no wonder so many grabs are made.
I know this will stir the infamous hornets nest but it has to be said. But again, great job on the grabs and it appears the children are doing better because of quick work by DCFD FF’s.
Why would it stir the “hornets’ nest”? Engine 4 was not due on the box….sorry….had to do it.
Great work by all involved. Hate to see those little lifeless bodies, very happy to hear they are doing well. DCFD at its finest!
1. “If it is a departments SOG to allow a civilian/s to watch FD operations commence without being ordered or phyically removed from the fire building then no wonder so many grabs are made.”
Are you serious?!? I didn’t hear any audio in the footage… How do you know they weren’t told to get out? Also, would you rather your first in companies control the spread of a fire in a large occupied apartment building or go around throwing people out of the building?
Hey truckie. You can order people around all you want. Unless you’re a cop good luck telling the citizens what they can do or “physically removing” them. You’d last a thin minute in our neighborhoods where at least we get SOME respect from the people we attempt to protect.
FINALLY some good PR! But it only seems to ever come from the firemen, never the management. Wonder why???
Great Job Engine 15 and Rescue Squad 3!!! Dave, really sad that these safety clowns continue to type useless Sh*t stirring comments. 3 children are alive today due to these Men and all you clowns are worried about are waist straps??? You must be kidding me!!! No one is perfect on every call maybe they forgot, or maybe they will do better next time, maybe there is a reason none of us know about because we wern’t there, but is that the necessary comment for this great story? Also, I gaurentee that Mr. Truckie has never worked anywhere like SE DC. I’m sure the citizens were told to get out and they did under than own power. If the firemen escorted these able bodied citizens out, maybe the recue doesn’t get made in time. I would love to see Mr. Truckie try to start throwing the citzens around he would be in the back of an Ambulance too. Haha I would be willing to bet many of those citizens have been to more fires than Mr. truckie has.
Can we please STOP Monday morning quarterbacking and critizing our “brothers” (some of you can’t fathom this term). If you wern’t there you don’t know. Citizens read websites and we wonder why the Fire Service is having the problems it has. No one is impressed that you can watch a video and point out every minor mistake. This not only makes you look bad but all of us in the fire service as well. How about we all agree to make useful comments we can learn from like ” We had a call similar to this and we did this or that and it worked/didn’t work. I would’ve like to of tried this or that etc. All other stupid comments/bashing should be deleted/ignored! It’s getting to the point where I shutter to read this site because every story has 20 ignorant comments about safety vests or waist straps.
DCFD FIREMAN, YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB!!
Dont listen to all the BS going on these boards.. a rescue of three kids is AWESOME!
A few comments of things noted beside offering congratulations for a completing a great rescue.
1) The difficulty experienced by ffs in locating the fire apt.
2) The number of men who assisted with straightening out the hose. Obviously a well trained dept in this regard. And special kudos to the driver who came inside to also straighten the hose.
3) The rescuer who tripped while carrying the child and was also worrying about his helmet.
4) The IC who ordered the EMS supervisor to meet the ambulance, which evidently was able to be successfully accomplished.
Great job guy, you should be proud!
Truckie, could you please send Statter some videos of you in action so we can see how it’s really done and then we’ll be able to learn from the best? Thanks. We’ll be waiting.
Gentlemen,
And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.
A job well done.
you are flipping klling me. this video makes DC firemmen look like the clowns they really are.
Outstanding job guys!! Dont listen to the negative junk from anyone, they are just jealous! Great team work between all of you.
Guys awesome job! Three kids get to live another day because you were on the job and because of your courage! From one brother to another GREAT JOB!
dcfd fireman,
This isn’t a general news site, it is a site that covers fire stuff. If what you want is a “Great Job!” “You Rock” “awesome stuff” “you’re the greatest” “SUper Fabutastic” “You’re my hero”, then go visit your mom & dad, go to a motivational speaker presentation, or go to an IAFF meeting. WHen Fire Service professionals come together, or even are alone, they are constantly looking for a better way, a safer way, things done wrong individually-company level and personally. Fire Service professionals discuss and learn from others mistakes and their own mistakes. So ask yourself the question, Are you a Fire Service Professional or do you just need your ego stroked? (Union Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the month, usually at the bar at the end of the block)
If you can’t take the heat, get off the nozzle.
Hey don’t need no pat,
Fire Service professionals also discuss and learn from others SUCCESSES and their own SUCCESSES as well!!! You forgot that part! There were obviously way more successes than failures on this fire. Negative attitudes and jealousy rearing its ugly head bring down the fire service much, much more than the occasional waist strap that is not clipped….
With that said… Great job DCFD! You guys ROCK. That was AWESOME STUFF! In fact, it was SUPER FABUTASTIC…
Hey, “Don’t need a pat on the back” You are 100% right. So, if you are the professional you say you are, and think you could teach DCFD something. Why don’t you show up to their next Union Meeting, which is held on the 4th Monday of the month, at 10am, at their UNION HALL, and not some Bar. I’m sure they’d love to hear all your grand ideas. Please, don’t hold back, and don’t stroke their egos. Just tell them how unprofessional they really are.
Please feel free to reply back and I’ll give you the address of the Union Hall. I’ll be there waiting to see and hear from you.
Excellent job fellas! Let those other guys keep “getting their vest on” while DC keeps “getting the job done”!
Hey Back Patter and all the others, this site IS someplace to learn and discuss issues, you are right about that. However arguing with anonymous people on the Internet who were not there at the scene, do not work for the department being featured, and are looking at a picture or a video clip of an entire incident, then picking one aspect about it that they don’t like and harping on it like they are the second coming of Brunacini is also not helpful. Who are the members who committed these egregious safety violations? Did these violations affect the outcome on the scene? Were they rookies who made a mistake? Were they senior men who have become set in their ways, and that’s just how they do their job? Who knows? Does it matter in this situation? No it does not. Did the waist straps affect the rescues that were made? I don’t think so. Do I wear mine, yes I do. Do I know that it is the right thing to do to wear my equipment properly, yes I do. Did I come to that conclusion from a combination of experience and training? Yes I did. Do I feel that it is my job to tell others how they should do their job? No I do not, especially in this particular discussion. If this was an article about whether or not waist straps should be worn on the fire ground then I would be glad to offer my ‘opinion’ about why I feel that it is safer for every firefighter to wear their waist strap than not to wear it, and discuss it with anyone who wanted to. There are several websites and forums where these sorts of issues can be discussed at length, but I am sure that a perfectly safe fireman like you probably knows of these discussion sites. I find that they are extremely helpful and beneficial when used as learning places for fireman across the country to discuss issues.
With that being said, this is not an article about waist straps, or helmet straps or any other variety of safety issues, it is an article about aggressive company’s making a rescue, and saving the lives of three small children. Fortunately there were no adverse affects from sagging waist straps, or improper helmets straps, or the citizens who would not leave the building, or any other Backwards A** safety violations that any of you vest wearing gurus can come up with. The headline of this story didn’t read ‘Foolish fireman who didn’t wear waist strap of SCBA bungles attempted rescue’. It was an article about a life saving rescue that was made, and thankfully and fortunately everything went the way it should. The only thing that we can definitively say is that any delay in getting to these children or providing them the necessary medical care they needed may have affected their outcome, which after all is the main reason that we all should be showing up every day and calling ourselves professionals. It is so that we may protect life! Those men did an outstanding job, and I’ll tell you what Back-Patter, and all of the other Anonymous people who come on this website and comment as if they are perfect firemen, who never make a mistake…fire grounds are not perfect places, they are dynamic ever changing situations that we as professionals can only prepare for so much. Experience and training guide us, we learn from those around us, but mistakes are still are made. I make them, I guess unlike you and all of your perfect cohorts on this forum, I am not a perfect fireman, but I’m OK with that. I learn everyday I go to work, sometimes its because I do the right thing and sometimes its because I did the wrong thing, but I learn. Maybe one day I will be perfect enough like you to critique everyone on everything they do and profess my exceptional perfection in this our chosen profession. Although I honestly hope that I never become that guy. I do not ever want to become someone who can take a story about a job well done by our brothers and use it to make myself feel like some sort of smart guy.
I do not congratulate these men because they need a pat on the back, far from it. I do it because I respect them, and they should be recognized for a job well done. I have worked with several of the men on these companies, gone to fires with them, been on the scene of medicals with them, and I can assure you they are professionals. So much so that if I or any of my family members were in need of help these are some of the men that I would want coming to our aide.
You are onto something though…this profession is filling up with too many soft skinned, weak-egoed people who need that sort of recognition to continue everyday, but this is not an example of that or those types of people. These men are professionals who simply did their jobs and nothing more. They do not ask for any extra recognition. I offer it because I respect them.
Good job fellas!
Hey Truckie and Pat on the back, your best bet is to cross the street. Stay out of the way and you too will be ok.
Nice Job brothers.
I’m still waiting for you guys to post your “How it’s really done” videos. I’m sure you guys go by “Bull” or “Axe” around the firhouse so you must have something good to put on here and teach us. Where’s Hookman with some good comments for these guys?
You would think that a guy in the military would have the common sense to GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY and let those guys do their job! What was that clown doing??? I hope his CO sees him and chews his ass…
Great job to the 3rd. I see no point in you idiots even commenting if your not going to give any background of your experience or leave your name. Don’t be a weak individual. leave your name and deal with your stupid comments.
Again, great job!!!
I’m always reluctant about commenting on a forum when the pot has been stirred. DC Firefighter, well stated. I wholeheartedly agree that today’s fire service is turning S-O-F-T. It seems that every new guy that walks in the door needs to be built up and reassured that they are doing a good job. Grow up! Your mommy does not work here! I love to see folks critique others while sitting in anonymity behind their desktop, knowing full well that they had done the same thing they just watched the shift before. Yeah, I saw a few things on the video that could have been done differently, but those who live in glass houses should not throw rocks. Not a single fireman (Yeah, I said it, fireman) has ever been to a fire where every single thing went right.
I have no idea who ” DC Firefighter say” is, but I want to say, it’s one of the BEST thought out and well written things I’ve read in a LONG time. 90% of the DC Firefighters feel the same way you do, we only dream we could put it in the words you did. Thank you.
Well, I do know who DC Firefighter is, cause I’d recognize that GP style writing anywhere. LOL, if you guys only knew who you were thanking…
Well done on the saves guys, as always ya’ll are the best…
Thank Godthe “Real” firefighters were there, not the “Oh its not safe,its so dangerous (but never really done it) type.Great call on the”grab and go”.You guys make me proud.GREAT Job. Tom Johnson
wonder if any of these nutless wonders possess the testicular fortitude to visit the quarters of E15/RS3 and express their displeasure with how things are done by the DCFD…….I doubt it
I seriously doubt it dc sgt. The monday morning quartebacks seem to have gone. The crew of Engine 15,Rescue 3 and A-15 did a great job on the grab and go. I’m sure the victims will someday appreciate the fact they did not have a bunch of robots worried about waststraps.