The Grasonville Fire Department will be hosting the first annual No Limit Texas Hold em' tournament as the first fundraiser of the year.

When:    Feb.21,2010  (Sunday)

Time:      1:00 PM         ( Doors open at noon)

Cost:       $75.00          

Starting Chips:        5,000

At 12:19 hours the station was alerted to assist Station 4 with a MVC with Entrapment in the 4-3 Box.  Rescue 2 and Reserve Engine 26 (Engine 51) responded on the Run with 12 Volunteers.  Command (Chief 4 Powell) directed the Rescue to assist with Extrication and the Engine was directed to handle the Landing Zone for Trooper 1.  The Rescue assisted Rescue 4 with the extrication of 2 patients and assisted EMS units with loading the patients.  Units cleared at 12:59 hours.  Command: Chief 4 - Powell, Rescue Group: Chief 2 - Anthony. Landing Zone: Asst. Chief 2 - Coursey.

With another Major Snow storm approaching Maryland the 100% Volunteer Force stepped it up once again.  The Volunteers began staffing the firehouse Friday morning and stayed till Monday.  The Volunteers ran a variety of Calls and staffed the Station the whole weekend with a minimum of 2 fully staffed crews in service and at the peak had 4 fully staffed crews in service.  Also staffed were both the Brush truck and Utility truck which both saw a good work out this weekend.  The storm dropped over 2 foot of snow on us and we showed that no matter what the circumstance may be, the 100% Volunteer Force here is always there for the Community in which we Serve.  Thanks to all the members that helped staff the station throughout the Storm and the members that as we speak are getting ready for the next one.

At around 23:00 Hrs Station 2 was alerted for a barn fire on Warrington Road in Queenstown. Engine 25, Truck 2, and Tanker 2 responded and assisted units on scene with fire attack and water supply. Units cleared approximatley 2 hours later. Thanks to station 9 for covering the first due while we were out.

Approximatley 15 volunteers from Grasonville braved the weather to participate in the Polar Bear Plunge. Members raised just under $2000 to support the cause. A transfer crew was also brought in to cover the first due while we were out. They were greeted with another snow storm bringing 8 inches of snow to the local area. The volunteers from Chestertown ran several accidents due to the weather and managed to keep Grasonville safe while members where diving in the Bay for the plunge. Many thanks to the volunteers from Chestertown for standing by for us and the members who stuck around Grasonville to get the rigs out while the rest of us were at the Polar Bear Plunge. Also we wish a speedy recovery to Justin Davis who recieved frost bite to his feet after "giving it all" at the Polar Bear Plunge.

After the Collision involving Engine 26 we have been reduced to a single engine company since Engine 26 was our reserve engine. After Engine 25 went out of service shortly last night for a small mechanical issue the Church Hill Volunteer Fire Department stepped up and loaned us one of their reserve apparatus. Engine 51 is a 1988 Pierce Arrow with 1000 gallons of water and a 1250 gpm pump. The Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department greatly appreciates this and looks forward to running this unit.

As strong storms moved through the area drenching us with rain, high winds and area flooding units from Grasonville where kept busy. The first call came in at approximately 0815 hrs for an explosion on Perry's Corner Road. After crews found a transformer they where quickly diverted to wires down on Main Street. Here they found nothing and where sent to Queenstown for a tree into a house. Just after units had cut the tree down and covered the roof they where again sent to Oyster Cove for the first Due Building Fire. Engine 25, Truck 2, Tanker 2 and Rescue 2 all responded. Units found a faulty electrical outlet and the box was placed under control. After cutting up another tree that fell on a house and responding to a smoke investigation units where finished for the day with a total of 7 calls.

At approximately 1900 hrs Station 2 was alerted for the first due house fire with explosions at 111 Beach Harbor Drive. Engine 25, Truck 2, Tanker 2 and Rescue 2 all responded. Utility 2 arrived first to find a double wide trailer fully involved with exposures to several sheds. Stations 2 went to work stretching multiple lines and with the assistance of Stations 1 and 3 got a quick knock on the fire. After overhaul the scene was turned over to investigators and all units returned around 2130 hrs. Thanks to Engine 12 for covering the first due while units were working.  Thanks to Bruce Secrist of Fire in the Hole Photography for the pictures.

At 16:42 hours the station was alerted for a boat fire at 500 Piney Narrows Road at the Piney Narrows Marina.  E-25 and Truck 2 responded on the call with 14 volunteers.  Chief 1 arrived on scene with smoke showing from a 40 ft. sailboat.  Engine 25 arrived on scene and advanced a 2 1/2" leader line and a stand-pipe pack out the pier.  The majority of fire had been contained by bystanders with fire extinguishers.  Crews on scene worked to contain any remaining fire and checked for extension.  Units cleared the scene at 18:30 hours.  Chief 1 was Command.

 Monday night at approximately 10:15 PM Queen Anne’s County Station 2 (Grasonville) was dispatched for an MVC with injuries on Route 50 at the Kent Narrows Bridge. The road conditions were starting to diminish due to a light snow fall on the shore. Engine 26 had arrived on location and was blocking two lanes of traffic to ensure a safe scene while the crew assisted with the accident. All was well until the crew was back in the Engine and waiting to return to the station.

A tractor and trailer was headed west bound and apparently did not see all of the BRIGHT FLASHING LIGHTS and side swiped Engine 26. With a crew of 6 on board, 4 of them were transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis where they were treated and released.

From now on when you see an emergency scene, please try to remember this incident and slow your vehicle down and pay attention to what is in front of you instead of the accident you are passing.

Firefighters and EMS personnel, whether they are paid or volunteer, risk their lives every day on the highway trying to help others in need. Our job is dangerous enough without having to worry about getting hit by a negligent driver. We are just as busy as everyone else; we all have families that we would like to return home safely to, but we take time out of our day to help someone in need.

THANK YOU for doing your part to keep us safe while we keep you safe.

Chief Anthony and the members of the Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank their brother firefighters and the community for the support, thoughts and prayers in their time of need.
 

Story From Fire in The Hole Photography www.fithp.net