DCFD ENGINE 20, TRUCK 12, BFC 5

ENGINE COMPANY 20 WAS ORGANIZED ON JANUARY 23, 1907 AT IT'S PRESENT LOCATION 4300 WISCONSIN AVE. NW. WASHINGTON D.C. IT WAS HOUSED AS A SINGLE ENGINE COMPANY AT THAT TIME. ON JULY 7, 1913 TRUCK COMPANY 12 WAS PLACED IN SERVICE AND HOUSED AT IT'S QUARTERS. PRESENTLY THE BIG HOUSE IS COMPRISED OF ENGINE 20 A 2003 PIERCE DASH ENGINE, TRUCK 12 2003 AMERICAN LA FRANCE 100 FOOT TILLER TRUCK, AMBULANCE 20 A 2006 HORTON BLS UNIT, AND FINALLY BATTALION CHIEF CAR 5 WHICH IS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE HOUSE WAS APART OF A 7 MILLION DOLLAR REFURBISHMENT PROCESS WHICH TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE. THE NEW HOUSE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND MODERN FEATURES SUCH AS NEW KITCHEN, WEIGHT ROOM, OFFICERS AND CHIEF QUARTERS, A LARGE BUNKROOM, MANY STORAGE ROOMS, GEAR CLEANING AND DRYING ROOM, A LARGE EATING AND SITTING ROOM WITH BIG SCREEN TV'S BASICALLY ANYTHING ANYONE COULD DREAM OF. WHILE THE PROCESS OF BUILING WAS BEING DONE ENGINE 20 WAS HOUSED ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY BASE ON NEBRASKA AVE. NW. OPERATING OUT OF A MODULAR HOME HENCE THE NAME TRAILER TRASH WHICH STILL STANDS TODAY. TRUCK 12 WAS HOUSED AT ENGINE CO. 31 ON CONNECTICUT AVE. NW. SOON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ENGINE 20 ALSO BEING HELD THERE ALSO. AMBULANCE 20 AND BATTALION CHEIF 5 WERE HOUSED AT ENGINE 21 ON LANIER PLACE NW. AMBULANCE 20 AT THAT TIME WAS THE SECOND BUSIEST AMBULANCE IN THE CITY. THE NEW HOUSE IS COMPLETELY OPERATIONAL AND HAS BEEN OCCUPIED BY THE MEMBERS SINCE OCTOBER OF 2006.

At 2:00 PM today, Fire & EMS was dispatched to the 3300 block of Runnymede Place, Northwest, where it was reported there was fire in a second floor hallway. First arriving units discovered that a box fan had malfunctioned and had caught fire with serious extension into the floor and wall. Seven-year-old Andrew Miller was asleep in the next room - heard the smoke alarm and ran downstairs to tell his grandparents, who were unaware of the fire. The grandparents then assisted the rest of the family, including a two-year-old boy and a five-year old girl, out of the house to safety.  Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly with no injuries. Fire Marshal Gary Palmer praised Andrew for his fast action and also praised the Miller family for keeping their smoke alarms in working order.

After several long grueling hours of medical calls and local alarms the nite surely came quick with several more serious calls....

1751 hours Hazmat Local sent the house to 4200 Ellicott street NW. for a freon leak units handle the leak on scene no other servies were required.

1940 hours Box Alarm Engines 28, 20, 31, 21, 11 Trucks 14, 12, Rescue 2 BFC 5 and 4 ambulance 28 responded for the apartment fire 3726 Connecticut Ave NW. Units found smoke on the fourth floor of an apartment bldg. Truck 14 found small stove fire in apt. The box was held with one engine and both trucks for overhaul and ventilation. The box was placed in servie.

2033 hours Box Alarm Engines 5, 28, 20, 21, 9 Trucks 14 and 12 Rescue 2 BFC 5 and 4 Ambulance 28 responded on the grounds on the Vice Presidents complex at 3450 Mass. Ave. NW. while units were trying to find the proper location Truck 12 arrived first on scene several minutes before all others to find light smoke showing from side a and roof top area. The truck quickly acted with several members of engine 20 on board acted as the truck and engine company quickly knocking down the fire in the kitchen with several extinguishers the valient efforts of the Lt. and techs. shutting off the utilities and outtening the fire the box was quickly placed back into service after venting was complete sparing minimal damage...

Units responding with battalion 5 to the 2500 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW. for smoke. Units found a electrical socket on fire with no major extension handled by engine 20 truck 12.

Box Alarm Engines 5, 20, 28, 29, 1 Trucks 12, 14 Rescue 1 BFC's 5, 6 Ambulance 20

THURSDAY MAY 15TH 2008

1950HRS 3765 NORTHAMPTON ST NW 2STY HOUSE HADF FIRE IN THE WALLS

BOX E-31, 20, 28, 22, 24 TK 12 & 14 RS 2 BC 5 & 3 WFD E-69 TK 11

2029HRS 2ND ALARM 3857 NEWSARK ST NW 3STY APT BLDG HAD A BASEMENT FIRE

BOX  E-5, 29, 11, 21, 9, TK 5 & 6 RS 1 BC 6 SOCH WFD E-9 TK 9

2ND ALARM E-24, 1, 4, 16 TK 2 & 3 RS 2

D.C. firefighters rescued three people who were trapped on the top floor of a Northwest apartment building because of smoke last night, officials said. Fire fighters used ground ladders to help the three people evacuate the third floor of the building, in the 3800 block of Newark Street, about 8:30 p.m., said Alan Etter, a fire department spokesman. Emergency workers treated six others at the scene and took three others to a hospital for observation. The fire started in a ground-floor bedroom and produced heavy smoke throughout the building.The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, the result of an overloaded extension cord.  Damage was placed at $60,000.

 

 

 

 

Engine 20 rolled up and down the streets of DC. today responding to calls several miles away in the 6th battalion for medical locals, local alarms, and a box alarm in Oregon Knolls area for food on the stove with minor extentions. Meanwhile truck 12 running its usual calls also running as 2nd due truck to the same location on the box. Meanwhile ambulance 20 running more boxes then the truck and engine put together in the 6th and 3rd battalions for the building fires... The day so far up until 5pm. the engine topped out with 10 runs while the rest of the day/nite awaited.... By the end of the tour 18 runs were recorded bringing an end to a very unusual day for engine 20 and a total of 30 runs for the house....

0941HRS 4810 BLAGDON AVE FIRE IN A 1STY GARAGE

BOX E-28, 21, 31, 9, 6 TK 12 & 14 BFC 5 AND 4,RS 1

1823HRS 3512 CONN. AVE 3STY TAXPAYER FIRE IN THE DUCT WORK

BOX E-28, 20, 21, 11, 4 TK 14 & 12 RS2 BC 5 

Engine 20 and Truck 12 were 2nd due on the box holdin it down on the rear. The findings proved that the ducts were on fire in the rear outside of building. Engine 20 backing up engine 21 after hiking the 400 footer through side A into the rear of the structure. Truck 12 providing ventilation and opening up the duct while engine 28 had a knock down through the duct system. The box was held to 1 and 1.

THE DCFD HAD THE PRESTIGIOUS HONOR TO HANDLE MANY EVENTS OF THE POPE'S VISIT TO OUR NATIONS CAPITOL. ONE OF THE EVENTS COVERED WAS HIS TRIP TO THE NATIONAL SHRINE, WHERE WE ASSISTED THE USSS AND MPD IN ASSURING THAT THE POPE AND ALL VISITORS HAD AN ENJOYABLE AND SAFE VISIT

Northwest House Fire Under Investigation

Mon. Apr 7th 2008 story & photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO At 11:23 AM, units responded with Battalion 4 for the report of the house fire in the 900 block of Kennedy Street, Northwest.   First arriving firefighters found smoke in the block - and heavy fire coming from the basement of a two-story rowhouse.  The fire appeared too extended through the walls to the second floor and was threatening adjoining homes.  A fast interior attack kept the fire from spreading from the house of origin.  It was learned that the home where the fire started was vacant as was one exposure building on the end of the row.  The exposure on the other side was occupied, and the family has been displaced   There were no injuries, and the cause is under investigation.    LISTEN TO THE INCIDENT                                                                                                        929 Kennedy St NW House Fire 04/07/08 11:24 Hrs 37 Minutes 24 Seconds 17.5 MB

1121HRS 929 KENNEDY ST 2.5STY ROW HAD FIRE ON BOTH FLOOR AND BASEMENT W/EXTEN.

BOX E-24, 22, 14, 28, 17 TK 9 & 14 RS 2 BC 4 & 1 WFD E-11 TK 15 S/C T-4 & 12

Today was Chief Heckendorn's final tour as BFC 5 and with the department. Serving 31 years of service to Wash. DC. and the fire dept. His appointment date was February 27, 1977 as a brightwood truck 11 rookie and ending his long, outstanding career at the quarters of Engine 20 as Battalion Chief  5. His plans are to relax and become an old, grumpy fireman at his tic house and complain about the young hot shot fireman that think they know it all, and also complain about the weather.....

March 24 , 2008

When units responded to assist MPD for what was reported to be a suicide Monday afternoon, they could not imagine the call would evolve into a massive HazMat response that would end with 13 people hospitalized for observation.

 

Engine 20 and Ambulance 20 responded at 4:40 PM to assist on the scene of an apparent suicide in the 4300 block of 36th Street, Northwest.  Firefighters found an obviously deceased male, but the means were unclear.  While they were on the scene, police uncovered information that a dangerous substance might be in the two-story single family home.  Police then summoned - through Special Operations - a hazardous materials response to investigate.

 

HazMat did discover the presence of a dangerous and potentially lethal substance in the home.  Because of the on-going police investigation, the identity of the substance cannot be specified at this time.  But officials were certain the community was never in any danger, and the substance was contained to the house.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine how the man died.

 

Because several Fire & EMS employees were initially exposed to the material, they were all transported for observation only.  No other civilians were injured.  A female civilian and a police officer were also transported for evaluation.

Two N.C Firefighters Killed ( Video )

2 North Carolina Firefighters Killed in Lumber Yard Blaze

1 Fire Fighter killed in Upper Chichester Pa. basement fire.

Click for Book

Warning, This is a Large File That Takes Time to Load.

This is a regular publication of the DC Fire & EMS Department called ‘The Good News Book’.  It contains the hundreds of letters that are written by citizens of the District each year praising the work performed by the men and women of the DC Fire & EMS Department.

Yesterday’s severe weather caused the DC Fire & EMS Department to experience an unusually high call volume involving motor vehicle accidents. Between the hours of 2:00 PM yesterday and 7:00 AM today, Fire & EMS crews handled 29 auto accidents due to the icy roads.  This high volume was handled as the Department responded to an extraordinary number of calls, due to slip and fall accidents and general calls for medical emergencies.  In the 24 hour time period between Midnight yesterday and Midnight this morning – Fire & EMS responded to an amazing 568 calls for service.  All the calls were handled quickly, responsibly and professionally. “Our performance during these very trying conditions is nothing short of stellar,” said Fire & EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin.  “It demonstrates our Department’s commitment to duty and service to the citizens of the District.” Among the 29 auto accidents, were at least three critical incidents requiring technical rescue and extrication.  Units responded at 4:22 PM yesterday for the Metro bus accident on the West bound 11^th Street Bridge.  Several people were complaining of injury.  DC Fire & EMS dispatched its Mass Casualty Task Force, which consists of appropriate EMS resources and an ambulance bus capable of transporting several patients simultaneously.  In all, six patients were treated and transported to various hospitals for what were called non-life-threatening injuries. At 4:45 PM, Fire & EMS units responded for what was a critical crash on in-bound Benning Road at Anacostia Avenue, Northeast.  A 24-year-old woman lost control of her compact car, and it collided with a light pole, knocking the pole down and severely pinning the woman inside.  Fire & EMS responded with a technical rescue assignment to stabilize the car, treat the patient and extricate her so she could be transported quickly (photo attached).  The woman suffered injuries to her lower extremities but is expected to survive. At 5:55 PM, a rescue assignment was sent to the intersection of 5^th & N Streets, Northwest for a man who had been struck by a car.  Paramedic Engine 9 located an adult male who had been struck and was suffering from serious injuries.  The man was treated on the scene and transported to a nearby trauma center for further treatment and is expected to survive. On a typical day, Fire & EMS responds to approximately 400 calls for service.  Conditions change from time to time creating hazards, such as yesterday’s ice storm.  Fire & EMS was able to put extra units in service with the appropriate staffing levels to meet the extra demand for emergency response, which included many slip and fall accidents and the continuing pressures experienced by EMS and hospitals dealing with a high volume of flu patients. Chief Rubin congratulated members of the Department today saying, “I admire the pride, professionalism and dedication that each member [of the DC Fire & EMS Department] brings to work every day!  Thank you for all that you do for our City.”

For the fourth time in four days DC Firefighters battle another multiple alarm fire. Just after 11:30 am this morning (01/29) units from DC Fire Department were called to the 700 block of 49th  Street NE for a reported house fire.According to Fire Officials when units arrived on the scene firefighter encounter heavy fire coming from a one-story dwelling. As the crew from Engine 27 was entering the dwelling to make an attack on the fire the porch roof collapse on the firefighters briefly trapping them Lt Wally Gooding, Firefighter J.A. Bobo and Probationary firefighter Japheth Quintanilla was  able to free themselves. As a result of the collapse Firefighter Bobo was injured, he was transported to a local hospital with an injured ankle, Gooding and Quintanilla were uninjured. Firefighters attempted to make another aggressive attack on the fire, but due to heavy fire conditions and the possibility of another collapse they where removed from the house and had to attack the fire from the outside. With the possibility of the fire extending adjacent dwellings a second alarm was transmitted brining over 75 more firefighter to battle the fire. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

1140HRS 725 49TH ST NE 1STY DWELLING WELL OFF

BOX E-27, 10, 19, 8, 18 TK 17 & 13 RS1 BC 2 & 3 WFD E 15 TK 16

2ND ALARM E-12, 32, 26, 6 TK 15 & 12 BC 4

27engine.com

27engine.com

Photo by Alan Etter, DCFD PIO

Photo by Alan Etter, DCFD PIO

Photo by Alan Etter, DCFD PIO

Photo by Alan Etter, DCFD PIO

DC Fire Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a two alarm rowhouse fire in the Glover Park section of the city this afternoon. 

Just before 1:30 pm   (01/30) firefighters and EMS personnel were alerted for a building fire in the 2700 block of Cathedral Ave NW. 

According to Alan Etter, spokesperson for DC Fire/EMS when firefighters arrived they reported smoke and fire coming from roofline of two three-story rowhouses. A second alarm was transmitted brining over 75 more firefighters to battle the blaze. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within 15 minutes with one minor injury to a construction worker. Fire Officers have learned that a construction project was being done on the house where the fire started.  Officially, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

photo by Alan Etter DCFD PIO

Only one firefighter was injured at a massive four alarm fire in the Manor Park section of the city late tonight.Just after 10:30 pm  (01/25) units from DC Fire Department were called to the 5400 block of First Place NW near North Capitol and Kennedy St NW for a reported building fire.According to Alan Etter, Public Information Officer for DC Fire/EMS when units arrived on the scene they reported heavy fire showing from all three floors of a vacant apartment building. Firefighters started to make a very aggressive attack on the fire, but DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin who was on the scene ordered all firefighters from the building because of the building being vacant.With fire showing from all floors of the building a second alarm was sounded and several minutes later several special alarms were transmitted bringing units from across the city along with units from Montgomery and Prince George's County equaling a four alarm fire. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The cause of the fire is under investigation. Engine 20 was utilized on the box as one of several relief engines on the fire scene

2009HRS 517 INGRAHAMN ST NW 23STY ROW FIRE ON THE TOP FLOOR

BOX E-14, 22, 17, 65 & 21 RS 2 TK 6 & 2 BC 4 & 10 WFD E-21 TK 12

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY JANUARY 21ST, 2008

1154HRS 1303 TAYLOR ST NW BASEMENT FIRE IN A 2STY ROW

BOX E- 11, 24, 22, 9, 14 TK 6 & 9 RS 2 BC 4 & 6 WFD E-21 TK 11

1328HRS 4TH ALARM 1215 K ST NE 3STY TIRE SHOP WELL OFF

BOX E-10, 8, 18, 6, 3 TK 13 & 7 RS 1 BC 2 & 1 WFD E-12 TK 4

2ND ALARM E- 16, 4, 9, 27 TK 9 & 15 RS 2 BC 6

SPECAL E- 11, 17, 2, 20 & 1 TOWER 3

3RD ALARM E-13, 23, 15, 26 & 7 TK 14 & PG TK 817 BC 4 RS 3

SPECIAL FAIRFAX R 437

1826HRS 3611 14TH ST NW 2STY DWELLING FIRE ON THE TOP FLOOR

BOX  MONTG 706,  DC E-65, 28, 14 DC E 61 RS 2 TK 6 & 2 BC 4 & 5 WFD PG E-809 TK 12

2009HRS 517 INGRAHAMN ST NW 23STY ROW FIRE ON THE TOP FLOOR

BOX E-14, 22, 17, 65 & 21 RS 2 TK 6 & 2 BC 4 & 10 WFD E-21 TK 12

0823 hours Box Alarm Engines 31, 20, 28, 22, 21 Trucks 12, 14 BFC 5, 4  Rescue 2, Ambulance 20. Working fire dispatch Engine 11 Truck 6 for the reported house fire. Units on scene report fire showing Engine 20 holding the rear as 2nd due engine although not first due engine a detailed crew from engine 20 riding engine 31 had a quick knock down on the fire while truck crews ventilated. Engine laid out 300  feet of supply and 200 feet 1 1/2 attack line with 30 minutes of pump time.

0435 hours Box Alarm Engines 9, 4, 11, 21, 24 Trucks 6, 9 BFC 4, Sp. Ops. Rescue 2 for the reported house fire. As units arrived on scene the found heavy fire showing 1st and 2nd floors. Working fire dispatched was sounded for Engine 6 and Truck 4 along with EMS BFC 1. Fire still rockin but units are getting a handle on it, BFC4 sounded for a 2nd alarm bringing Engines 16, 14, 12, 28 Trucks 3, 12, BFC 6, Rescue 1 and the Hazmat unit along more ems units. fire knocked down in 20 minutes with 1 f/f minor injury from truck 6.....

0744 hours Box Alarm Engines 20, 28, 5, 31, 21 Trucks 12, 14 BFC 5, 4  Rescue 2  Ambulance 20 and the Hazmat unit for the building fire at 3028 Wisconsin Ave. NW. units on the scene found nothing showing but a fuel substance leaking from earlier in the day which brought the hazmat to investigate BFC 5 held it to 1 and 1 with hazmat unit......

Platton #4 continuing to run into the midnight hours after extinguishing several x-mas trees on roadways our medical locals did not stop nor did our box alarms.

0001 hours Box Alarm Engines 5, 20, 29, 28, 1 Trucks 12, 5, Rescue 2, BFC 5 and SO, Ambulance 1, EMS 1-6 for the apartment fire at 4114 Davis Pl. NW. Truck 12 pounding everyone into the box found moderate smoke conditions on the 1st floor so after the engine co.'s started rolling in a defective stove with fire extending to kitchen area was found in apartment 109. The fire being outtened by crew from Truck 12 and ventilation started, Engine 20 being 2nd due and the exposure group all floors checked and clear no other services were needed all co.'s went available.

0526 hours Box Alarm Engines 5, 20, 28, 29, 21 Trucks 12, 5 Rescue 2, BFC 5 and 4, Ambulance 20, EMS 4-5 for smoke at 2725 39th St. NW. Units on scene food on the stove, no servies required other than ventilation.

A quite unusual day at the 20 house running several local alarms, and medical locals between the truck, engine, and ambulance, several boxes came out for the reported house fire and also a building fire at one of the local strip joints/ restaurant.

Box Alarm 0746 hours Engines 20, 31, 28, 29, 21  Trucks 12 and 14, Rescue 2, BFC 5 and Special Ops Chief, Ambulance 20, EMS 4-5 for the reported house fire at 4522 45th St. NW. Engine 20 went on the scene of a 2 story single family ordinary construction nothing evident side A. Finding show faulty furnace no services needed.

Box Alarm 1314 hours Engines 5, 20, 28, 29, 21 Trucks 14 and 12, Rescue 2, BFC 5 and 6, Ambulance 28, EMS 4-5 for reported smoke coming from the roof of JP's Strip joint and a ajoining restaurant at 2412, 2416 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Engine 5 went on the scene finding a HVAC problem in the ajoining restaurant no servies needed.

#4 platoon had a busy day of running their usual alarms and medicals when an afa came out for the gallery after investigating E31, T12, E20 filled the box for a fire in the electrical room on the 3rd floor. 

Box Alarm Engines 31, 20, 28, 5, 24 Trucks 12 and 14, Rescue 2, BFC 5 and 4, Ambulance 20 and EMS 4-5 for the building fire. Fire was located on the 3rd floor electrical room at the fuse panels. The fire was contained to the room within 5 minutes no other services needed.

Several minutes later........

Box Alarm Engines 20, 31, 28, 29, 5 Trucks 12 and 14, Rescue 2, BFC 5 and 4, Ambulance 20 and EMS 4-5 for the house fire at 4525 Brandywine St. NW. Engine 20 went on the scene with a 2 story single family ordinary construction side A with nothing evident. Crews determined a unmaintained chimney was to blame.

Engine 20, Truck 12, BFC 5 on the scene with heavy fire showing at 3003 Veazy Terrace on #2 platoon. A 78 yr old woman was killed in the blaze and the fire was brought under control in 10 minutes...Fire began in the womans apartment on the 6th floor investigations are being conducted.

Engine 20 and Truck 12 has had a busy 2 days with two well involved fires one of which had 2 fatalities on the 3100 block of Oliver street. Also on the 25th another fire in an apartment at 4849 Connecticut Ave. NW. Engine 20 2nd due for both fires taking over the scenes and making a quick attack on the seats of both fires, while Truck 12 1st due for both fires adding their own suppression contributions.....

2nd fire in 2 days for the members of engine 20, truck 12 engine 20 being assigned a 2nd due postion made a valient effort by scaling the outside walls of the apartment building to the balcony and making a wonderful knocked down before a working fire dispatch was even requested by chief 5. The crew had some wonderful decision making on capitalizing on a falling out by the    1st due engine company. Truck 12 was able to assist in the suppression with engine 20 by completing their normal everyday truck co. work. The fire was brought under control in 5 minutes. No injuries were sustained, all went home safe.

November 5 and November 6 the house had been running up and down the streets of Tenleytown responding on a Working fire dispatch as RIT companies on 6228 North Dakota Ave., Box Alarm 1st due 4500 blk of Wisconsin Ave. for building fire, Box Alarm 4221 Connecticut Ave. for the house fire, Box Alarm 4200 blk of Connecticut Ave. for smoke, Box Alarm 3313 Runnymeade Pl. for the house fire in the kitchen, Box Alarm at the DC. Zoo for a reported fire in the animal house, several accidents with reported entrapment, and the usual AFA's and Medical Locals.....

Units with the fifth battalion ran a vehicle into a structure with entrapment and collapse on November 6, 2007.

Sgt Michael LaCore remains in critical condition at the Burn Intensive Care unit at MedStar. Surgery yesterday was successful, and test results indicate no respiratoryburns.

Firefighter Charlie Shyab has been upgraded to fair condition and has been transferred to the Burn Stepdown Unit, a transition to less critical care. Firefighter Shyab continues to improve.

 Engine Co. 20 and Truck Co.12 - 1st due on 3rd Alarm fire in Adams Morgan..

Truck 12 1st due on 2nd alarm fire in upper NW. 8165 East Beach Dr. NW.

                            The Creation of a Fire Fighter

When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "Your doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said "Have you read the specification on this person? Firefighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a person that the usual every day person would never touch, while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances. They have to be able to move at a second's notice and not think twice of what they are about to do, no matter what danger. They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten meals, and they must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems, " said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes a Firefighter has to have."

That's on the standard model? " asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. " One pair that sees through the fire and where they and their fellow Firefighters should fight the fire next. Another pair here in the side of the head to see their fellow Firefighters and keep them safe. And another pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the victims caught in the fire that need their help."

"Lord" said the angel, touching his sleeve, " Rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't, said the Lord, "I already have a model that can carry a 250 pound man down a flight of stairs and to safety from a burning building, and can feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the Firefighter very slowly, "Can it think?"

"You bet," said the Lord. It can tell you the elements of a hundred fires; and can recite procedures in their sleep that are needed to care for a person until they reach the hospital. And all the while they have to keep their wits about themselves. This Firefighter also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with a scene full of pain and hurt, coaxing a child's mother into letting go of the child so that they can care for the child in need. And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody, other than from fellow Firefighters."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Firefighter. "There's a leak", she pronounced. "Lord, it's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American Flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And it's a tear for their commitment to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!"

"What a wonderful feature Lord, you're a genius" said the angel.

The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."

 Satan "20 Engine's dog"

THE BIG HOUSE RESPONDS TO OVER 5000 RUNS PER YEAR IN THE UPPER NORTHWEST SECTION OF D.C. 

Designed by Matt Swartz E20 #4