Tournament Dates:

MAY 26

AUGUST 25                     SEPTEMBER 29

OCTOBER 27                  NOVEMBER 24

All tournaments require a $125.00 buy in, $95.00 will go to the prize pool and $30.00 will go to the Department. Free food and drinks will be provided during the tournaments. Must be 21 to play. Doors open at 5:30 pm, cards will be dealt at 7:00 pm. Reservations may be made by calling (301) 609-7500.

We were alerted 1st due for the report of a townhouse fire at 102 Charleston Court, with police on the scene reporting fire showing. E11, RE13, E14, Chiefs 1A and 1B responded with 14 volunteers. A career EMS duty officer was on the scene and advised Chief 1A that there was fire showing from the rear with exposure problems. Chief 1A immediately requested a 2nd alarm. E11 arrived to find a 3 story end of the row townhouse with fire showing from the C-Charlie side. Chief 1A arrived on the scene and established the La Plata Command, assigning E11, E101, Chief 10 to the Attack group; E121, RS3, Chief 10A to the Exposure Group; Truck 11, RS10 to the Vent Group; E83, Tower 9, Chief 8A as the RIT Group. Units were able to hold the fire to unit #s 101 and 102, with minor extension to #103. Once the fire was knocked down and confirmation was received for no extension, Command removed all 1st alarm units and utilized "2 and 2" off of the 2nd alarm to complete salvage operations, and returned the balance of the remaining units. There were 3 minor injuries to FD personnel and no civilian injuries. Command was terminated and units cleared the scene at 1624 hours. One feline was located on Division 2 during overhaul operations and removed by one of our very own.

The young "Probationers" represented us well in all of these games.  Most of them were doing this for the first time.  They brought home a 1st place Bucket Brigade Trophy for their efforts.  Good Job guys!!!  Your valuable training will contiue to pay off for the rest of your life.

The true La Plata pride was shown today to all companies in the Southern Maryland region.  Many members showed up in dress uniform to attend the parade for incoming SMVFA President Chuck Shaw.  In addition several members participated in the ancillary activities as well.  In the end we brought home trophies for Best Appearing Company in the Association, 1st Place Miss Fire Prevention, 1st Place Little Fire Chief, Most Uniform members in the line of parade, Best Appearing Rescue Unit, and 1st Place in the Bucket Brigade Contest.  Excellent Job to all of the members for cleaning and displaying what La Plata is all about.....and that is #1.

Special Thanks to Falmouth VFD for covering our area while we participated, and to Jack Winegardner Chevrolet for providing us with 2 pristine Camaros to carry our Queen and Little Chief.  Also thanks goes to the men that graciously let us use their photos.

Life Member Wesley C. Johnson was remembered at the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen's Association Memorial Service held on April 28, 2012 at the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.

We were alerted for a motor vehicle accident with a vehcile into a building and entrapment at 6560 Crain Highway.  Rescue Engine 13, Collapse Unit 1, Chiefs 1A and 1B responded with 10 volunteers.  First arriving Chief 3B found 2 vehicles on top of each other inside the bay of a service station with 1 patient trapped, but not pinned, and some structural damage.  Chief 1A arrived and established the Command, assigning Chief 3B as the Rescue Group Supervisor, Chief 10 as the Safety Branch, and Chief 1B as the Collapse Group Supervisor.  Rescue Engine 13 arrived and utilized the Rescue 42 struts to stabilize the top vehicle and another strap to attach the vehicles together.  Rescue Engine 13's crew then utilized the Maverick tool to remove the driver's door which freed the patient to awaiting EMS crews.  The utilities were secured to the building, and the Collapse Group and Town Building Inspector completed a structural survey revealing damage to an interior partition wall only.  The patient was transported to PG Trauma Center due to the mechanism of injury by A518.  Command scaled the units back to Co. 1 and the Collapse Team only for removal of both vehicles from the structure.  Once the vehicles were removed, all units returned to service at 1645 hours.

The new buggies have arrived at Criswell Chevrolet.  Chief 1 has inspected them, and they will be going to the emergency vehicle conversion vendor soon.  This will be the last time that anyone will see them as white vehicles.

It is with profound sadness that the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department regrets to announce the passing of Life Member William “Earl” Shughart.  Earl passed away suddenly on Monday, March 19th 2012.  Earl joined the Department in 1991 and served as a Firefighter, Assistant Engineer, and Deputy Engineer.  In 1993, Earl received the Medal of Valor (the highest medal in the Department) for rescuing workers trapped in a well.  Earl was also instrumental in the development and training of the first Charles County Special Operations—Collapse Rescue Team, which is operated by La Plata VFD.  Earl’s dedication to the Department over the years is evident in the first class quality of the Collapse Rescue Team and in the various projects that he completed with his welding expertise.

 

A well-respected member of the fire department community, Earl joined the Fairfax County Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team in 1998 and represented the team as a Heavy Rigger on several missions. His expertise in heavy rigging and crane operations proved invaluable in the completion of the original US&R state-of-the-art rubble training site.  He participated in numerous exercises and mentored several team members in crane operations. He deployed to the bombing in Nairobi, Kenya, earthquakes in Izmit, Turkey and Touliu, Taiwan, the Pentagon, and Hurricane Ophelia in Virginia Beach.

 

Earl was a dedicated family man and close friend to all.  He is survived by his mother P. Earlene Shughart, daughters Kim and Krystle and their families, girlfriend Donna Davis and her son Joshua Davis, his brother Harry (who is also a Life Member of the Department), sister Teena Schwering, sister Jacqueline, and his FDLP and Fairfax brothers and sisters.  Earl’s ever-present smile will be greatly missed around the firehouse, along with his willingness to help anyone in need.

The arrangements are as follows:

Viewing on Monday, March 26, 2012 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM with Firemen's Prayers at 7 PM at our Station.

Funeral Services will be held at our Station on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10 AM with interment at Old Durham Church Cemetery in Ironsides, MD.  A reception will follow back at our station.

Any departments wishing to bring apparatus on Tuesday are to contact Fire Chief Matt Gilroy at 240-299-6720 or Deputy Fire Chief Doug Hutchins at 240-299-3701.

We were alerted to respond for the report of a house on fire at 12045 Provident Drive in Dentsville.  E11, TA1, and Chief 1A responded with 8 volunteers.  E11 and Chief 1A arrived on the scene of a single story on a basement detached home with fire showing from the Charlie side.  E11 advanced the 400' attack line to the structure while Chief 1A did a walk around to find fire involving the Charlie side from the basement to the roof.  Chief 10B established the command and assigned Chief 1A as the Division 1 supervisor with E11.  E11's crew made an aggressive attempt on Division 1 and were able to complete a primary search of the A and D quadrants.  The Division 1 supervisor noticed the fire conditions worsening and threatening the structural integrity and recommeded the evacuation of the structure.  All crews were evacuated and accounted for, units began utlizing handlines to extinguish from a defensive position.  A constant water supply was established and units re-entered the structure to knock down the remaining fire and extinguish all of the hot spots.  All units returned to service at 2330 hours. 

The La Plata Vol. Fire. Dept. was alerted to respond for a mutual aid house fire at 16510 Arabian Ct in Hughesville Co 2's 1st due. Engine 11, Tanker 1 & Chief 1 responded shortly after being alerted. The first arriving unit Engine 23 reported a 2 story single family home with smoke showing from 2nd floor. As responding units marked on scene, reports from attack crew where they had fire on the second floor with heavy involvement in attic. As the units from La Plata arrived, command advised the crew from Engine 11 to report to second floor and assist the attack crew opening up and extinguishment. Tanker 1 arrived on scene supplying Tanker 2 with a constant water flow, and Chief 1 arrived on scene assisting the OIC from Engine 23 with the command. Units from La Plata operated on the scene for about an hour and a half, and with the fire under control, and overhaul complete command held units from Co 2 and Truck Co 3 and returned all others.  Good Job by all!