Welcome to "The Park", the unofficial website of the career staff assigned to Loudoun County, Virginia Station 11.  This site is dedicated to the men and women that have made this station one of the most respected and sought after assignments in the county, and to the community they serve.  Located 25 miles west of Washington D.C. Engine and Tower 11 are first due to a wide variety of occupancies and target hazards which include light and heavy industrial complexes, numerous single family, townhome and garden apartments, schools, shopping centers and hazardous materials sites.

Multiple Vehicle Accident in the Park

February 26 - At approx. 01730 hours on Thursday, units were sent to the 100 block of N. Lincoln Ave. for a reported vehicle into a structure.  Engine and Truck 11 arrived on scene to find several people milling about and what looked like a demolition derby in the front yard of a single family home.  One vehicle had veered off the roadway and careened into several parked vehicles, causing a chain reaction.  The structure had not been involved so the assignment was quickly downgraded.  One patient was transported.

Commercial Building Fire

February 25 - For the 9th time this week Engine and Truck 11 were toned out for a reported building fire, this time on Douglas Ct off Old Ox rd.  Engine 404 arrived just before 11 and reported a large two-story commercial building with smoke and fire showing from side alpha.  They ran a line to an open bay door where a small fire had been burning, filling the entire structure with dense smoke.  Engine 11 lapped the building and found side charlie to be clear.  Truck 11 responded from station 18 so arrived later and took the rear.  Several units were held for extensive ventilation.

First Due Garage Fire

February 20 - At approximately 0700 hours Engine and Truck 11 went out for a reported house fire on Autumn Olive way on the Park.  Both arrived to a two-story colonial with fire showing from an attached garage.  Truck 11 performed a search and closed the interior door to the garage to prevent extension while the Engine ran a line through a separate entrance.  The owner had built walls in the garage to create a workshop/office with separate storage, hampering a quick knock-down.  Truck 11 X-ray was ordered to  the roof to ventilate, clearing out the smoke enough to overhaul.  The fire seemed to have started as a result of the owner burning coal inside his fireplace and extended through a crack in the chimney.

The Park Loses Another

February 12 - For the second time in a year, we've lost another great fireman to the Empire state.  FF Adam "Jed" Smith has decided to go back home.  Originally from the upstate  area, he had  applied with the Syracuse Fire Department back in 2004 before coming on board with Loudoun.  This month he was offered a position and will start recruit school on February 16th.  Jed was always known as the white cloud of station 11, managing to miss virtually every working fire in the past two years.  However his  last day at 11 was a fairly eventful one. 

The early morning started with  a vehicle under a tractor trailer on Old Ox Rd.  Engine 11 and Rescue 15 responded but the patient was already out of the vehicle with only minor injuries.  Around lunchtime Box area 11-28 was sounded for the house fire at the intersection of Butternut Way and Acorn Ct.  The caller advised the entire back of the house was on fire.  Engine 11 layed a line from the intersection and marked on scene with smoke showing from the rear of a previously burned house.  Truck 11 arrived immediately after and performed a lap of the house to find it was a tent-like structure behind the home that was on fire.  They forced the front door and checked for extension while the Engine knocked down the outside fire.  This house had been the scene of two previous working fires in the past and had not yet been rebuilt.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Honoring Lt. Patton

December 31 - Lt. John Patton of the Loudoun Sheriff's Office was laid to rest today in Sterling Park.  John was the very first paid firefighter hired in Loudoun County in the 1970's.  He worked directly for the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company at FS611 and was the first Station Commander there.  He left the fire department a few years later to become a Sheriff's Deputy, and worked there for 28 years until his sudden passing earlier this week.  He was an imposing figure in his brown uniform, but the nicest guy you could ever want to meet.  He regularly stopped in at the Park for coffee or a chat, and was always quick to call out the Tower when a house needed breaking into. He will be sorely missed.  Rest in Peace, John.

Smoke Showing Behind the Firehouse

November 29 - No, not really.  But someone did put six chickens worth of meat on the grill and then walk away leaving it to burn.  All in all it was a slow week for the Park.  Seemed like the whole county was dead this month.  Turkey day was a hit, with approx. 20 firemen and family fed.  The only notable call was a car carrier that negotiated the exit ramp too fast and went on it's side.  Too bad for someone's BMW.

New Arrival at the Park

October 30 - Abigail Faith Lippincott was born at approx. 1418 hours to Father Technician Larry Lippincott and his beautiful wife Pam.  Weighing in at 7lbs 6 oz. and 21 inches, she is the newest member to FS11.  Congratulations to the proud parents!

‹--- Check out the three amigos!  Baby Abby, Olivia, and Nathan

Another Kitchen Fire in the Park

November 6 - Just before 1400 Box 1122 sounded for a house fire on Amy Ct. in Sterling Park.  Engine and Truck 11 arrived on scene within minutes to find a 1 1/2-story split-level SFD with smoke showing from the front door.  The occupants met the Truck crew outside stating the kitchen was on fire.  Engine 11 ran a line while the Truck searched and hooked ceiling.  A pot of oil had ignited the cabinets above the stove and charged the house with thick black smoke.  Only minor extension was found and it was quickly held with 2 & 1.  One patient received treatment on scene for  smoke inhalation.

Units on the box: E611, E618, E404, E623, E606, T611, R439, B601, EMS601, SO601, A15

Kitchen Fire in Cascades

October 30 - At 1710 hours Box 1823 was struck for a single-family dwelling fire on Summerhill Place. While enroute units were advised the kitchen was on fire and extending to the living room. First due E18 arrived on scene with smoke showing from the front. They advanced a handline to the kitchen and began extinguishing the fire. Engine and Truck 11 arrived soon after along with Battalion 601. Engine 11 advanced a back-up line to the floor above while the Truck performed a primary search. The fire was quickly knocked down and held with 2 & 2.

Units on the box: E618, E611, E623, E606, T611, TL606, B601, EMS601, SO601, A25

Acquired Structure Training in Merrifield

October 27 - Engine and Truck 11 were fortunate enough to be able to travel out of county to participate in some acquired structure training in Fairfax. The FCFD has been given 3 large commercial buildings, a single-family, and a brick and block multi-family dwelling all in one small complex on Gallows Rd. We arrived around lunchtime just as the rain started and were given the okay to train as we saw fit. For four hours we vented roofs and breached walls. A volunteer crew from FS11 graciously covered for us while we were out. 

Fairfax Mutual Box for the Park

October 20 - At approx. 1000 hours E404 along with E611 were dispatched for an investigation on Fantasia Circle in Herndon. E404 arrived on scene to find smoke showing from the attic of a 1 1/2-story split level home. Fairfax Box 412 was immediately struck as E611 arrived on scene and reverse-layed to a hydrant. Due to the close proximity to quarters, Truck 611 added on as the first-in special service piece. They arrived as 404 advanced the initial line and E611 had the back-up. A search was performed and the fire found to be in the kitchen on the first floor. Crews put a quick knock on it as the Truck hooked ceiling. There was a minor amount of extension to the attic area directly above. It was quickly held with 2 & 1 and all units were clear in about an hour.

Units on the box: E404, E611, E436, E425, R439, T611, T436, B401, EMS401, B601

You may notice a long break in the chronological order of these incidents.  In fact, the last update was June of 2007.  Well we finally got the webmaster to get his butt in gear and do some work on this site.  Now that it is up and running again we will try to keep it updated and as informative  as possible.

Commercial Box ends the Drought

June 27 - At approximately 1400 hours, just as a Seagrave factory rep showed up at station 11 with a busload of firefighters from the Poconos down to see the new Tower, the tones started dropping.  Box 11-10 was struck for the commercial building fire at 1323 Shepard Drive.   Rescue 13 (Loving) happened to be at station 11 (all the way from Leesburg) for equipment so they added on and responded behind Wagon 11 (Lt. Dodsen). Both marked on the scene to find a two-story warehouse style commercial building with smoke showing from an occupancy used as a wood cabinet shop. Members immediately went to work.  Rescue 13 quickly found the fire in the rear of the building as FF Keyser  ran the line, picking his way through a large amount of storage in the aisles as well as several forklifts in the garage area.  Tower 11 (Lt. Schumacher) arrived on scene soon after and he and FF Lippincott ventilated  the second story windows while Technician Moore set to work with the K12 on the roll-up garage door. Crews were met with heavy fire fed by various chemicals and extension to the second floor. Tower 6  took the rear upon arrival and cut the roof; Battalion 601 (B/C Brandenburg) had command.  A second alarm was struck due to the humid weather, and Haz Mat 19 was special-called to evaluate the chemical hazards. Two firefighters were treated and released at Lansdowne Hospital for minor injuries.

Acquired Structure Training

June 26 - Wagon and Tower 11 trained for two days straight in what used to be the original Sterling Post Office located on Ruritan Circle.  The current owner, a furniture company, planned to raze the small brick & block building but offered it to the fire department first.  Many other units from the first battalion joined us in Mayday/RIT drills, concrete wall breaching, forcible entry and vertical ventilation drills through out both Monday and Tuesday.  Although the temperatures pushed 100 degrees with high humidity both days, crews were not swayed from such a rare training opportunity.

Gas Leak, Entrapment Make for Sweaty Day

June 19 - While the heat index soared to close to a hundred degrees, Wagon and Tower 11 along with 18 were sent to the Washington Sports Club gym on Dranesville Road for the odor of gas in the structure.  The Tower checked the roof-top units while Engine 18 checked exposures.  A pilot light next door in Glory Days grill was found to be the culprit.  Shortly thereafter while clearing a fire alarm, company 11 was sent out again for the MVA with entrapment at Atlantic Blvd. and E. Severn Way.  Wagon 11 arrived on scene quickly and established Command (Smith) with a minivan on it's side and confirmed one trapped inside.  The Tower (Kerkstra) and Tech unit (volunteers) responded due to Rescue 15 being out of service.  Battalion 601 (Brandenburg) assumed Command upon arrival.  Engine 18 (Pierson) responded as well and assisted with stabilization and the LZ.  Because of the limited equipment on the Tech unit, some imagination had to be used.  The roof was flapped and patient handed over to Dulles M364.  Aircare responded and the patient was flown to Fairfax Hospital.  Units operated on scene for approximately one hour.

MVA in Front of Station 11

June 14 - While hard at play at PT, Wagon 11 was sent back to quarters for a reported auto accident with injuries.  Arriving prior to Medic 25, Wagon 11 found a two-vehicle wreck with one injured.  A technician from Keplinger's had already initiated patient care; Wagon 11 assisted with packaging one for transport.  Later in the day, the Wagon went out again for a water main break on the Boulevard.

Hot Day in the Park

June 1 - As temperatures rose well  into the 90's on Friday afternoon, the boys from the Park were engaged in some serious physical activity at the Olympus Gym on Glenn Drive when the alarm was sounded for a commercial building fire approximately 6 addresses down.  Not seeing any smoke in the area, Wagon and Tower 11 responded two blocks down to a one-story warehouse style building with numerous occupants outside.  After running the 300' line to the center of the structure, a burned up exhaust fan in a bathroom was discovered to be the culprit.  Much of the large building was charged with smoke, so "one and one" was held for removal, and units cleared within 30 minutes.  Meanwhile Engine 18 took the cardiac arrest on Greenthorne Avenue, just a few streets down.  An hour later units were sent to Chase Heritage Circle for a reported dryer fire in a garden apartment.  The fire was confined to the appliance, and units were released minutes later.  The drought continues.

Soldiers Down in the Park

May 4 - At approximately 1030 this morning, station 11 was toned out for an auto accident reportedly involving two box trucks at the intersection of W. Church Rd. and Cascades Parkway.  Upon arrival, Wagon 11 (Kerkstra) discovered a tractor-drawn Budweiser truck struck broadside by a tanker truck carrying windshield washer fluid.  Multiple cases of beer bottles were strewn across the road and onto the hood of a car waiting in the turn lane.  Rescue 15 (Myers) was called to the scene to assist with a large amount of motor oil leaking from a cracked crankcase in one of the trucks.  Wagon 11 and Medic 15 treated one ALS patient who was flown to Fairfax.  Wagon 11 handled the LZ.

Tower 611 Goes In Service

April 20 - After swapping equipment between fire trucks all morning due to mechanical difficulties with Truck 611, as well as the unavailability of Quint 618 due to station fills in PWC,  the boys from the Park were given the okay by Vol. Chief Starling to place the new Ladder Tower in service.  At approx. 1315 hours the announcement was made by the ECC: "The new Tower 11 is in service."  TL11 is a 2006 Seagrave with a 104' RK Aerial.  More pictures to come.

Truck Fire in the Park

April 19 - Old Canteen 11 was being loaded up for it's final trip to it's new home in Florida when the engine compartment caught fire.  Since this occurred directly in front of the station while preparing for lunch, all members responded to assist.  Luckily this was all caught on tape by FF Keyser.  The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries.

Box 18-3 for the Apartment Fire

April 10 - The Engine and Truck were cleaning up from breakfast when the box was struck for 20810 Wallingford Square in Cascades.  Q618(Woodard) marked on the scene with nothing evident, but upon investigation discovered a kitchen fire with sprinkler activation in an apartment on the 3rd floor.  It was held with Engines 618 and 611, as well as Truck 611.  There was water damage to numerous apartments.

Mutual Box 3901

April 3, 2007 - At approximately 1600hrs engine 611 was dispatched for the 2nd alarm house fire on box 3901 in Fairfax County.  Upon arrival 1st in units encountered heavy fire conditions on the 2nd floor with extension through the roof.  Engine 611 arrived and picked up the plug for Engine 404, and then reported to the command post for additional assignment.  Command requested a 2 1/2 inch line to the Adam side of the structure, as to assist in the defensive operations.  Engine 611 cleared the scene after about 2 hours and returned to quarters.  Assigned to the Engine that day was FF D. Henry, FF B. Keyser and Capt. Smith. 

Company 611 and Dulles Handle PIT

August 25, 2006- Units from Company 611 and Dulles Airport were dispatched to the intersection of Wilder Court and Old Ox Road for a report of an auto accident with entrapment.  Units went on scene reporting multiple car accident with entrapment.  Rescue Engine 324 and Rescue Squad 615 simultaneously worked to extricate two separate victims.  Crews operated on scene for forty five minutes.  One patient was flown to Fairfax Hospital in serious condition. 

Hazmat Box on Jennings Farm Drive

August 22 - While cleaning up from breakfast firefighters from Engine 611 were alerted for an investigation of a possible chemical leak in the parking lot at 46950 Jennings Farm Drive.  Upon receiving the supplemental Engine 611 requested the assistance of Hazmat Company 619 and other additional resources.  The product that was leaking from the truck ended up being Sodium Hypochloride.  Units operated on scene for three hours. 

One Trapped In The Park

August 21 - Just after 0800 hours units 11 and 15 were dispatched for a report of an auto accident with possible entrapment at the intersection of W. Beech Road and W. Alder Ave.  T-611 arrived on scene and confirmed the entrapment.  The patient was extricated in just under 10 minutes.  Patient care was transferred to Dulles Medic 364.  BC 601(Shank) had the command. 

New Additions to The Park

August 10 - With the latest transfer list out and about, Company 11 will be losing Lieutenant Mike Loving, Technician Dan Bush, Firefighter Mike “Root” Burrier, and Firefighter Marty Rutledge.  With their departure Company 11 will receive Captain Dan Smith, Lieutenant Chris Kerkstra, Technician Greg Moore,  Firefighter Blaine Keyser, and Probationary Firefighter Harry “Skippy” Davison.  Best of luck to everyone on their transfers and to the guys who are leaving.  Don’t be a stranger, you’ll always have a home in The Park!