June 10, 2009 - Shortly before 1800 Hours on Wednesday a Severe Thunderstorm hit the greater 4th and 1st Battalion Areas. The Engine, Truck, both Ambulances and all three chiefs were kept busy running 21 calls in a 4 hour time period. The calls ranged from two house fires from lightning strikes, car accidents, flooded conditions and numerous calls for occupied vehicles stranded in high water.

June 10, 2009 - Just after 1900 hours in the middle of the severe thunderstorms that were moving across Prince George's County, Truck 812 was dispatched as the third due special service to 6808 Randolph Street in Landover Hills.  Units arrived on scene to find a two story house with smoke and fire showing.  Upon the arrival of Truck 812, command directed it's crew to split.  The first half the crew handled the Rapid Intervention Duties, while the second half completed secondary searches of the entire house and assisted with other duties on the exterior.  Truck 812 operated on the scene for approximately one hour before being placed in service by command. 

June 11, 2009 - At 0911 Hours on Monday the box alarm was transmitted for 7507 Hopkins Avenue reporting a fire in the basement. The assignment brought Engine and Truck 812 along with Chiefs 812 and 812B. Chief 812B arrived shortly after dispatch reporting a two-story Cape Cod style single-family dwelling with heavy smoke showing, establishing the Hopkins Avenue Command with Chief 812 at the Command Post. Ambulance 812 responded as part of the working fire dispatch and set up an Aide Station and Rehab across the street.

Engine 812 stretched a line to Division 1 to hold the top of the stairs under heavy heat and smoke conditions while the Truck Crew searched and opened up. Engine 812 handled a fair amount of fire extension to Division 1 as Engine Company 807 made a good knock of heavy fire conditions in the Basement.

The fire was knocked down within 15 minutes but crews continued to chase extension through the walls for another 30 minutes before the fire was completely extinguished. Company 812 cleared the fireground at 1147 Hours.

June 10, 2009 - Just after midnight units from College Park were alerted to a report of one shot on Baltimore Avenue near Paint Branch Parkway.  Units arrived on scene to find one shot in a vehicle with PGPD and UMPD on scene.  The patient was quickly packaged and transported to an area trauma center by Medic 812 with the help of Ambulance 812.  Units cleared in about an hour.  

MAY 11, 2009 - At 0354 Hours on Monday morning, Truck 812 and all three chiefs were alerted to 9348 Cherry Hill Road in Company 811’s area for a reported fire on the 7th Floor of an apartment building. While responding PSC relayed numerous supplements of a fire on the 7th Floor with people trapped in their apartments. Truck 812 and Chief 812B were first arriving at an 8-Story Apartment Building with nothing evident from the street. Truck 812 quickly made their way to the 7th Floor with Chief 812A and found heavy smoke conditions with near zero visibility in the hallway. After escorting several occupants out of the hallway to the stairwells and sheltering disabled occupants in their apartments the Truck Crew located a rubbish fire in the elevator lobby. While the hose line was being stretched the Truck crew kept the fire in check with a can. The Truck crew worked with Engines 811 and 841 to conduct a primary search throughout the 7th Floor while other units on the fire ground searched the 8th Floor and performed ventilation tasks.

MAY 5, 2009 - At approximately 2130 hours, Engine 813 was alerted for an investigation of a propane tank to the rear of 5850 University Research Ct.  Shortly after arriving on scene, Company 812 was requested to assist in the investigation, bringing Engine 812, Chief 812 and Chief 812B.  Following some initial investigation, crews confirmed a 1,000-gallon propane tank leaking approximately 20-feet from the rear of a building under construction.  Crews established a perimeter as well as a water supply and charged safety lines while Command (Chief 812), HazMat Company 830 and Bureau Chief 803 strategized and contacted the Maryland Department of Environment for assistance.  The MDE Emergency Response Team arrived and commenced a “flaring” operation, igniting the fuel through a safe and controlled means away from the tank and building.  This process was constantly monitored by rotating suppression crews manning a handline and was successfully completed at approximately 0600 hours.

MAY 5, 2009 -- At 1433 hours  Engine 812 was alerted for a report of a house fire at 5620 62nd Avenue in Company 13’s first due.  Within minutes Engine 809 went on scene with fire showing and reported a bedroom off on the second floor.  Engine 812 with six personnel arrived as the third due engine and secured Engine 807’s water supply.  Engine 812 was advised to stand by on side alpha with a back-up line off of Engine 807.  Command advised units of an injured firefighter and directed Engine 812’s crew to assist.  Station 812 was alerted for the working for dispatch.  Ambulance 812 responded with two personnel.  Members from Engine 812 assisted the injured firefighter to the ambulance which transported him to Doctors Co mmunity Hospital.  Engine 812 cleared the scene at 1507.

MAY 2, 2009 - Just before 2330 hours the Engine and Truck from Company 12 were alerted for a house fire in the 8300 block of Potomac Ave in Company 11's first due.  Units arrived on the scene with smoke showing from an apartment that was on the top floor of a two story garage.  Engine 812's crew stretched a back up line to the exposure apartment and checked for extention.  The Truck crew split into two teams. The first crew quickly laddered the building and performed multiple exterior tasks.  The second crew conducted the primary search of the fire apartment and assisted with opening up.  Chief 812B had the command and Chief 812 had interior.  Units from College Park cleared shortly after 0100 hours after assisting investigations.

MAY 2, 2009 - On the morning of March 17, 2008, Truck 812 was dispatched to 2000 Erie Street for a report of an apartment fire.  Due to units being tied up on another box, Truck 812 was the second arriving piece of apparatus.  Just moments after arriving the crew from Paramedic Engine 844 declared that there was a working fire in a basement apartment.  Just moments after knocking down the fire the crew from Paramedic Engine 844 found an unconscious adult female and removed her to the exterior.  After helping with this Lieutenant Greg Zalenski continued the search with Firefighter Charles Sines (PGFD assigned to Truck 12).  Firefighter Sines found the child partially under the bed and covered with bedding materials.  Lieutenant Zalenski assisted Firefighter Sines with extricating and removing the child to the outside and immediately began CPR on the child.  Once an ambulance arrived Zalenski and Sines turned over care to the arriving ambulance.  The adult female survived however tragically the child succumbed to his injuries a short time later.