July 24, 2011 - At 0402 hours, Engine 812 was alerted to Company 1's first due for the second alarm house fire at 5508 43rd Place.   After arriving in staging, the crew was quickly put to work on Division 2 where they met up with Chief 812. Chief 812 had been dispatched on the initial assignment as Battalion Chief 884 and was operating as the Division 2 Supervisor.  Members encountered moderate smoke conditions and fire inside of the walls on Side "C" of the structure.  The officer from the Engine 812 assumed the role of the Division 2 Supervisor when Chief 812 went to rehab.  The crew worked to open up the walls, extinguish the fire in the walls, and to hydraulically ventilate before going to rehab.  The crew was rotated back into the fire building to help complete overhaul. The Engine Company and Chief cleared the call after about two hours.

July 13, 2011 - It is with deep regret that the College Park Volunteer Fire Department announces the passing of alumni member John Lackovic while in the line of duty with the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company in Chester County, PA.  John was an active member and Sackroom live-in during the late 1970's while he attended the University of Maryland. John attained the rank of Captain during his time at the CPVFD and is fondly remembered by many of our senior members.  At the time of John's passing he had 33 years of experience in the fire service and was serving as Fire Police Lieutenant with the Valley Forge VFC.  John was as a great source of knowledge and inspiration for members of his department and will be missed by all who knew him.  Please keep John's family as well as his fire department family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

June 24, 2011 - Shortly after Foam 812 went back in service in the early morning hours of Saturday, Foam 812 and the Support Unit were alerted to the Prince Georges County Landfill on Brown Station Road in Company 20's area to assist the units on the scene with a deep seated fire in the pile. When the units from Company 12 arrived, they went to work setting up the foam operations.  Crews flowed about 9,000 gallons of finished Class A foam and about 3,000 gallons of finished Class B foam to help extinguish the fire. Units from Company 12 operated for just over two hours before returning to service. 

June 19, 2011 - At around 1630 hours Truck 812 was dispatched as the second due truck to Bovelder Drive in Company 31's first due for a report of a house fire. The truck responded on the call with 5 volunteers.  While en route, PSC advised units that they were receiving numerous calls.  Just a few blocks from Station 12, a column of smoke could be seen in the distance.  Engine Company 49 was the first to arrive along with Chief officers from Company 31.  Crews found a 2.5 story single family with heavy fire showing.  As Truck 812 arrived, command was hitting the evacuation tones due to a collapse of the roof.  The truck crew manned a hand line on side alpha while defensive operations were under way.  After a few minutes units regrouped and resumed interior operations.  Truck 812 assisted with extensive overhaul on the first and second floors as well as completed the secondary search of the entire dwelling.  Truck 812 operated for around three hours before returning to service.

June 14, 2011 - Within an hour of returning to quarters from the earlier fire, Truck 812 was dispatched on the assignment to 5506 Baltimore Avenue for a report of fire coming the building.  Units arrived to find fire showing from the rear of a car wash with possible extension in the exposure on the bravo side of the building.  Upon arrival, Truck 812 was assigned to the exposure to check for extension and complete primary searches.  Once this was completed, command reassigned Truck 812 as the RIT.  The fire was quickly controlled and Truck 812 operated on the scene for just under one hour. 

June 14, 2011 - At 1511 hours, PSC dispatched the assignment to 8139 15th Avenue in Langley Park for an apartment fire.  Truck 812 was dispatched as the second due truck company on the box.  Engine 834 arrived on scene within minutes and found a room off on the first floor.  Shortly after Engine 834's arrival, the Southern Safety Officer (Chief 812) arrived on scene and assumed the command until the arrival of Battalion Chief 884.  While Engine 834's crew was getting a knock ont he fire, Truck 812's interior crew performed searches on the floor above, checked for extension, and assisted with ventilation.  Truck 812's exterior crew laddered the building and assisted with ventilation from the exterior.  Chief 812B was assigned as the Division One Supervisor.  Units from Company 12 operated on the scene for just over an hour.      

June 10, 2011 - Shortly before midnight the box alarm was struck for 5804 Annapolis Road in Company 9's area for a report of an apartment on fire.  While units were en route, communications advised incoming units of multiple calls, indicating a possible working fire. The Engine from Company 9 went on scene of a 10 story high-rise apartment building with smoke showing from the top floor. Moments later, units reported heavy fire from the top floor. Battalion Chief 884 arrived, established the command and almost immediately requested a special call of an extra engine and truck.  Shortly after requesting the extra engine and truck, Command requested the full second alarm.  Engine 812 was the second due engine, and Truck 812 was first due truck on the second alarm. After staging for a short time the units were put to work securing utilities to the building, and searching the floors below the fire. Chief 812 also ran the call as the safety officer and was assigned Division 10 during the initial attack.  Ambulance 812 was added to the call as an additional EMS unit to assist with rehab and treat several civilians.  In total, 12 Volunteers from Company 12 operated on scene. The units on the first alarm put a quick knock on the fully involved apartment and the units from Company 12 cleared the call in an about ninety minutes. 

June 8, 2011 - Just before 2300 hours, Truck 812 was alerted as the second due truck on the second alarm at 5400 85th Avenue.  Upon arrival, Truck 812's crew threw ladders and were then redirected to Division three to assist with extensive overhaul.  Engine 812 was also added to the call and arrived in staging but did not operate on the scene.  Chief 812 had the Side Charlie safety division.  Units from Company 12 cleared the scene after operating on the scene for about ninety minutes. 

June 2, 2011 -  At 1619 hours the Truck Company was alerted to 1319 Merrimac Drive in Company 34’s first due area for the reported building fire.  First arriving units reported a fire in the electrical room for that building.  The truck was dispatched as the third due special service established the RIT upon arrival. Chief 812 responded on the call as the Safety Officer. Units from 12 cleared the call at 1722 hours while command held the first two engines and a truck until the arrival of PEPCO.

May 27, 2011 - Just before 1115 hours, Ambulance 812 was dispatched to Stadium Drive and Regents Drive on the University of Maryland Campus for an injured person.  Within minutes PSC upgraded the call to a possible structural collapse with unknown entrapment.  Upon arrival, units found an injured worker who was approximately thirty five feet below grade who had been struck/trapped under a re bar footing that weighed about 1,500 pounds.  The patient was freed prior to the crews arrival by workers who were on the scene.  The crew from the ambulance assessed and packaged the patient while the crew from Engine 812 and Rescue Squad 814 prepared for removal.  Crews utilized the stokes basket to remove the patient who was then turned over to Ambulance 812,the EMS Duty Officer, and Medic 818 for transport to Prince George's Trauma Center.  Chief 812 had command and crews operated on the scene for about forty minutes.        

May 21, 2011 - Shortly after 0700 hours, Truck 812 was alerted as 2nd due truck to 11461 Cherry Hill Road in Company 41's area for the apartment fire.  First arriving units reported fire showing from a terrace level apartment with extension to the floors above.  Truck 812 arrived 2nd due and operated on the floor above with the crew from Engine 811.  The interior crew opened up, searched the apartment, and worked with Engine 811 to knock down the fire extending upward.  The driver and exterior crew threw ladders to Side Charlie and ventilated from the exterior.  Chief 812 operated as the Division Officer on the fire floor.  Units operated for almost two hours before returning to service.

May 12, 2011 - At 1525 hours, Truck 812 was alerted for a possible house fire in the 11600 block of 35th Place in Company 31's area.  Truck 812 responded with eight personnel as first due truck.  Engine 831 arrived on scene reporting smoke showing and a possible bedroom fire in the basement.  Truck 812 arrived on scene and initiated the primary search of the basement and went to the roof to open up while Engine 831 began attacking the fire.  Truck 812 was held on scene to assist the fire investigators and check for any extension.  The Truck operated on the scene for about ninety minutes before being released.  This fire was Firefighter Jason Brown's last call before leaving for the United States Marine Corps.  Best of luck in the future!     

May 9, 2011 – Around 1400 hours Truck and Chief 812 were alerted to the house fire at 5031 Huron Street in Company 11’s first due.  Supplements from communications advised a child possibly still inside the home.  Chief 812 arrived on scene, advised smoke showing from a 1 ½  story single family dwelling and established command.  Rescue Squad 814 and E811 arrived simultaneously and began searching the first floor and stretching an attack line.  A small fire was located in a rear bedroom on division 1 and was knocked quickly. Command then advised that all occupants were accounted for by the homeowner.  Truck 812 arrived on scene and conducted a primary of and checked for extension of the attic division.  The Truck Company and Chief operated for about an hour before returning to service.

May 8, 2011 -  Just minutes after midnight, the Truck Company was alerted to 3015 Ellicott Road in Calverton for a house fire.  Upon arrival crews found a basement well involved rapidly extending to the rest of the house.  Due to the fact that it was initially unclear if there were still residents in the home, crews attempted an interior attack.  Due to the fire conditions throughout the home, crews switched to a defensive attack.  Truck 812's crew was split with half establishing the rapid intervention dues and the other half operating completing various tasks on the fire ground.  Truck 812 operated on the scene for just under two hours before being released by command.

April 24, 2011 - The CPVFD recently held their 2nd Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, April 8th.  The tournament was played at the University of Maryland Golf Course, where over one-hundred and twenty golfers participated in play.  The tournament, only in it's second year, was a great success, raising over ten thousand dollars for the department which will be used to assist us in maintaining, purchasing, and upgrading our equipment and apparatus fleet.  We would like to thank all of the sponsors for supporting such a great tournament, especially Looney's Pub (Captain Sponsor), Federal Signal (Lieutenant Sponsor), The College Park Merchant's Association (Lieutenant Sponsor), Motorola, all of our Hole Sponsors, Cart Sponsors, and those who donated merchandise.  Despite the rainfall throughout the day, all of the golfers showed their support of the CPVFD and played through, and for that we thank you.  We hope to see all of you and your support again next year!

April 22, 2011 - Associate member Justin Davidson has been honored by both the Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Department as well as Firehouse Magazine for his actions on April 4, 2010.  After getting off duty from Anne Arundel County Truck 33,  Justin was taking a nap at his parents house just outside of Philadelphia.  He was suddenly woken by his mother advising him that there was a fire in the house.  After helping his Mother, Father, and two Golden Retrievers from the house, he went to work armed with a shovel and a bucket trying to keep the fire in check until the local fire station could arrive.  Justin suffered a minor injury as a result of the incident.  Please join the Officers and Members of the College Park Volunteer Fire Department in congratulating Justin for a job well done!    

April 16, 2011 - At 1630 hours, Truck 812 was alerted to 3500 East West Highway in Hyattsville for a report of a fire at the Mall at Prince George's.  Crews from Company 1 arrived to find black smoke coming from the shipping and delivery tunnel that runs underneath of the building.  Upon further investigation it was determined that a 34,000 Volt transformer had caught fire and was actively arching in the tunnel.  Crews from Company 12 assisted with the evacuation, searches of the mall,  and were then sent to the tunnel to assist with extinguishing the fire and checking for extension once PEPCO deemed the power on the transformer secured.  Crews from Company 12 operated for about two hours before being placed in service. 

April 11, 2011 - Just before 1000 hours, Truck 812 was alerted as the second due Truck to 4112 Ulster Road in Company 31's first due for a reported house fire.  A large column of smoke could be seen while en route and first arriving units reported heavy fire showing from the garage as well as through the roof.  Chief 812 arrived a short time later along with several additional firefighters and was assigned the interior by command. The additional firefighters were assigned to assist with the initial attack line by command due to staffing levels of the first due engine. With conditions deteriorating and a partial roof collapse, command sounded the evacuation tones and requested the second alarm. Engine 812 was alerted as the first due engine on the second alarm and responded on the call with six volunteers. All personal from Company 12 assisted with opening up, operating hand lines, and eventually with overhaul and mopping up. Units from Company 12 operated for nearly 4 hours before returning to service. As a side note the members and officers of the College Park Volunteer Fire Department would like to express countless thanks to the Bladensburg VFD Company 9 for lending us Engine 92 for a several day period while both of our Engines were out of service for repairs.

April 9, 2011 - Around 1530 hours, Truck and Chief 812 were alerted to the 2000 Block of Rittenhouse Street for the reported house fire.  Paramedic Engine 844 went on the scene with a two story single family dwelling with smoke showing.  Truck 812 arrived on the scene as third due truck and established the rapid intervention duties and secured the utilities while completing a walk around.  Units from Companies 44, 34, and 1 were able to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes.  Truck 812 cleared the fire ground once the fire was brought under control and command held two and two.

April 4, 2011 - At 1345 hours, Company 12 was alerted for a fire in the basement at 7310 Hopkins Avenue.  Both the Engine, Truck, and the Chief arrived on the scene to find nothing evident, however as soon as the front door was forced smoke began to issue from the front door and the eaves.  Upon further investigation, a small fire was located in the ceiling of the basement.  Quick work was made of the fire and it was determined there was no extension to the floors above.  Company 12 units operated for just over an hour. 

April 1, 2011 - Just before 2300 hours, units from the 6th Battalion and mutual aid companies were alerted to 10 Morris Drive in Company 49's area for smoke coming from the apartment.  Engine 810 was first to arrive and reported smoke showing from a 3 story garden style apartment building.  After several minutes, "heavy fire" was reported from the second floor on side charlie.  This prompted  command to request the second alarm to be sounded.  Truck 812 was already on the air in company 31's area after being transferred and ended up being second due truck on the second alarm. The truck arrived as the first unit in staging minutes later and was put to work shortly after arriving.  The truck completed the secondary searches of the Bravo exposure and confirmed there was no extension.  The crew was then reassigned to the fire building to secure utilities and assist in opening up in the fire apartment.  Truck 812 and The Chief operated for just over an hour before returning to College Park.

March 27, 2011 - About two hours after clearing the Riverdale house fire, Truck 812 was alerted for the reported apartment fire in the 8100 Block of 15th Avenue in Company 34's first due.  Engine 834 went on the scene with a three story apartment building with smoke showing.  Truck 812 being second due truck positioned on the "Charlie" side of the structure and laddered the building.  Truck 812's interior crew performed the primary on the floor above the fire and checked for extension.  The fire was contained to one apartment and command quickly released units holding two and two.  The Truck Company operated on the scene for just over an hour. 

March 27, 2011 - Just after 0300 hours, Truck 812 was alerted to the 4700 block of Oliver Street in Company 7's first due for the reported house fire.  Engine and Tower 807 arrived on the scene to find a three story single family dwelling with fire showing from the third floor.  Truck 812 arrived on scene positioning on side alpha of the house and quickly began laddering the building, performing a primary search of the first and second floor, and opening up for the engine companies. Truck 812 operated on the scene for nearly three hours assisting Company 7 with extensive overhaul.

March 24, 2011 - There are just a few days left to sign up for players and foursomes for the annual College Park Volunteer Fire Department Golf Tournament.  Don't let this great opportunity to pass you by.  Both time and spots are going quickly.  Go to http://www.golfdigestplanner.com/17549-CollegeParkVolunteerFireDeptGolf/ to secure your spot today! 

March 21, 2011 - At 0821 Truck and Chief 812 were alerted to 3730 Evans Trail Way for a reported townhouse fire. B/C 886 arrived first reporting a 2-story townhouse with a working fire. Upon gaining entry crews had a fire in the kitchen extending into the remainder of the first floor. While the crews from Engine 841 and Truck 831 got a quick knock on the fire the crew from Truck 812 laddered Side Charlie and reported to the 2nd Floor to check for extension and search. Chief 812 was the Division One Supervisor. Company 12 cleared at 0934.

March 6, 2011 - At 1050 Truck and Chief 812 were alerted to the area of Ager Road and Hamilton Street for a reported vacant warehouse on fire. Company 1 arrived at 5621 Ager Road with a working fire in a large, vacant warehouse, directing units to set up for exterior operations.  Truck 812 arrived and set up for RIC duties as well as positioning for ladder-pipe operations.  Once crews gained entry a fire involving an old cardboard dumpster and auto was located just inside the door.  With an established water supply crews quickly extinguished a bulk of the fire and Tower 807 was utilized to overhaul the roof area. Chief 812 was assigned as the Incident Safety Officer and Ambulance 812 responded as part of the Working Fire Dispatch. Company 12 cleared at 1237. 

February 27, 2011 - Around 1400 hours, Truck 812 was alerted as the second due truck on the street alarm to the 10900 block of Fleetwood Drive in Company 31’s first due for an investigation of food on the stove.  While en route the Chief from Company 31 arrived with nothing evident.  Truck 812 arrived shortly after as the first truck and when entry was made to the home, found a working kitchen fire in the rear of the house.  The Truck crew located the fire and kept it check with the can while waiting for the engine company.  The fire was knocked down quickly, while crews opened up and completed searches.  Fire was held to the room of origin and units cleared in just over an hour.

February 23, 2011 - It is with deep regret that the College Park Volunteer Fire Department reports the sudden passing of Jimmy Hook, the Deputy Chief of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department.  Please keep The Hook Family and the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers in this trying time.   

February 21, 2011 - At 0413 hours, HazMat Company 812, Chief 812 and 812A were alerted to assist with a tractor trailer accident on Southbound Interstate I-95 at Powder Mill Road. The truck had left the roadway coming to rest jackknifed and partially overturned approximately 100' into the wood line and was leaking fuel.  HazMat Company 812 worked with personnel from HazMat 816 to offload 100 gallons of diesel fuel as well as gained entry into the trailer to verify that the contents were still in tact and not leaking. Companies 812 and 816 cleared shortly after 0600. 

February 19, 2010 -  Just after 2140 hours, Truck 812 was dispatched on the RIT dispatch (mutual aide to Montgomery County) to 21 Hamilton Avenue in Silver Spring.  Truck 812 arrived on scene and set up for rapid intervention operations along with Squad 801 and units from Montgomery County.  Truck 812 remained on scene a short time until being released by command.  While returning to quarters, Truck 812 arrived on the scene of a pickup truck that had just collided with a utility pole at Route 1 and Greenbelt Road.  No injuries were reported, but the utility pole was snapped at the base, requiring it to be replaced by Pepco later that night.  This fire in Montgomery County, MD third working incident the CPVFD had operated on in just under sixteen hours. 

February 19, 2011 - In the early evening Engine 812, Truck 812, and Chief 812 were alerted for the report of smoke in the building at 9201 New Hampshire Avenue in Company 34's first due.  The Engine 834 went on scene and had smoke on the third floor from an unknown apartment.  Truck 812 was the first arriving Truck Company on the scene, positioned Side Alpha, and assisted Engine 834 with gaining access to apartments.  The source was discovered to be food on the stove with no extension.  Several hours later, Truck 812 and Chief 812 were alerted for the reported house on fire in the 2000 block of Roanoke Street in Company 44's first due.  First arriving units went on scene with a working fire on the second floor.  Truck 812 was assigned RIT duties per command.  The Truck crew established RIT on Side A, performed a 360, secured utilities, provided ventilation, and assisted in the removal of several animals for the homeowner.

February 19, 2011 - Shortly before 1100 hours, units began operating on a large outside fire in the Mulch Pits at 5402 Van Dusen Road in Company 10's first due.  At 1126 a Haz Mat Box Alarm was requested due to potential involvement of diesel fuel storage tanks.  All suppression units from Company 12 - Engine, Truck, Foam, Haz Mat - along with Chief 812 and 812A responded on the call.  A formal command post was established as the fire began to rapidly extend out of the Mulch Pit, down and eventually across Van Dusen Road.  Personnel from Company 12 operated in numerous Branches that were established as the fire continued to spread through Company 10's first due, jumping Interstate I-95 and the ICC Construction site into Company 31's first due before being contained. The fire ultimately burned approximately 400 acres and numerous structures over a nearly 2 mile stretch of land.  Chief 812 operated at the Command Post into the late evening and again during the Sunday Operational Period and Chief 812A worked with units in the field.  The suppression units from Company 12 cleared after over nine hours of operating time.  An ambulance crew remained in service in quarters during the incident running numerous calls throughout the county.

February 19, 2011 - Just before 0600 Engine 812 and Truck 812 were dispatched to 8403 Potomac Avenue for a reported house fire.  While en route, PSC advised the units that there were possibly people still trapped in the home.  Engine 812 was the first arriving unit and reported a two story single family dwelling fully involved.  The Truck arrived just behind the Engine and located the occupants across the street who reported everyone was out of the home.  While the Engine was stretching the 2.5" preconnect to the A/B corner of the fire building, the Truck crew forced entry into the D exposure and alerted the occupant to the fire next door.  While Engine 811 was protecting the D exposure Engine 812 put a good knock on the original fire building, and briefly made access to the first floor to complete a search with members from Truck 814.  Once the evacuation tones were sounded, the crews knocked down the remaining fire from the exterior while other crews from the initial alarm as well as the task force and second alarm controlled several sheds on fire to the rear of the home as well as a sizable area of brush.  The fire extended rapidly due to the high winds and very low humidity on Saturday morning, yet all units were able to work quickly to extinguish the fire and prevent it from extending into either of the exposure dwellings. The units cleared around 1000 hours, just in time to get everything back in service to run a careers worth of brush fires during the rest of the day on Saturday.

February 8, 2011 - At 0018 Hours on Tuesday, HazMat Support Unit 812, Foam 812, Engine 812 and the Chief were alerted to 5801 Columbia Park Road in Company 22's Area for a reported Ammonia Leak in a meat processing facility.  Company 833 arrived first and confirmed that there was an ammonia leak from a refrigeration system within the plant.  Members from College Park worked with the other HazMat units from 816 and 845 to develop an entry plan, set up Technical Decon, and ultimately personnel from College Park made a Level A entry with personnel from 816 and HazMat Techs from the Plant to perform recon and secure the leak.  After Decon was complete, Company 812 units began the lengthy process of packing up and cleared at 0430 Hours.  Chief 812 was the HazMat Group Supervisor throughout the incident.

January 30, 2010 - Around 1000 hours, the Engine Company was alerted to 9124 Edmonston Court in Company 14's area for smoke in the apartment.  Engine 812 was the first arriving engine on the box and per command assumed that role.  The Engine stretched a line to the front entrance and stood by while Truck 814 searched for the source of the smoke.  After finding a haze and an odor in apartments on the second and third floor, the truck forced entry into a terrace level unit and found heavy smoke, indicating a working fire.  The Engine crew quickly masked up and advanced the line into the apartment and found and extinguished a fire in the front bedroom.  With no extension found, Command held units from Companies 12 and 14 to assist the investigators and to rack up.  Engine Company 12 operated for just over one hour.   

January 26, 2011 – Just a couple hours after getting to sleep due to the call volume from the winter storm, the box was struck for the 5000 block of Pierce Avenue in the “Lakeland” section of College Park.  Within Minutes Chief 812 arrived with a two story single family dwelling with fire on the first floor and in the basement.  As Engine 812 was stretching their attack line to the basement steps through the interior, there was a partial collapse of the first floor.  Crews were immediately evacuated and a par check was conducted to ensure that all members were accounted for.  After knocking down some of the fire from the exterior, crews were reassigned to begin an interior attack.  Engine 812 worked with Engine 811 and Truck 814 on the first and second floors as well as the attic while Engine 801 and Truck 834 operated in the basement extinguishing the remainder of the fire.  Chief 812 had command and Ambulance 812 was also on the scene to assist with rehab.  Units from College Park operated on the scene for just over three hours before returning to service.       

January 26, 2011 – As a winter storm was beginning to move through the Washington D.C. Metropolitan region, the call volume began to increase.  Within an hour of the snow beginning to fall, Company 12 began handling everything from station transfers with the ambulance to reported apartment fires.   Just after 2200 hours, the box was struck in Greenbelt for a report of a house on fire.  Engine 812 arrived and stretched an attack line through Side Bravo and checked the basement.  After about forty five minutes, Engine 812 was placed in service.  Before the night was over Company 12 would handle just over forty calls for service and two working fires.      

January 24, 2011 - Shortly before 1400 hours on Monday, Engine 807 was alerted to Kenilworth/ Rittenhouse for a report of power lines down.  On arrival they had a downed tree that had taken out numerous power lines in front of 6303 Kenilworth Avenue.  While investigating the area it was discovered that the house at 6303 Kenilworth Avenue was on fire and Company 7 requested the box to be filled out bringing Engine 812 as 4th Due and the Chief. Upon arrival Engine 812 worked with Engine 801 to establish a secondary water supply on Rittenhouse and stretched an attack line to the C/D corner of the house where they assisted with extinguishing fire in the walls of the structure.  Chief 812 arrived shortly behind Engine 812 and assumed the Kenilworth Avenue Command from Engine 807.  The fire was quickly contained and completely extinguished once Pepco arrived and secured the downed wires.  Engine and Chief 812 cleared the incident at 1530 hours.

January 19, 2011 - The College Park Volunteer Fire Department would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the friends and family fallen firefighter Mark Falkenhan of the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company in Baltimore County, MD. Firefighter Falkenhan was killed in the line of duty while operating on a fourth alarm apartment fire while performing search and rescue operations on the night of January 19th, 2011.n Firefighter Falkenhan was formerly a career firefighter with Baltimore County, and at the time of his passing was a member of the US Secret Service as well as a well known MFRI Instructor.

January 12, 2010 - Around 2000 hours, Public Safety Communications struck the box for the intersection of Bladensburg Road and 41st Avenue for a report of a house on fire with possible people trapped.  Within minutes Engine 855 arrived on the scene to find a two story single family dwelling with fire throughout and a second house beginning to catch fire in the 4100 block of Lawrence Street.  Just after dispatching the Working Fire Dispatch Engine 812B was transferred to Fire Station 55.  Shortly after units began to arrive on the scene, command requested a task force to be struck bringing Engine 812B.  The engine crew arrived and were assigned to the original house to assist with opening up and extinguishing remaining hot spots.  Engine 812B operated on the scene for just under ninety minutes before returning to service.

January 8th, 2011 - Just before midnight the street alarm was struck for 10444 Edgefield Road in Company 41's area for a reported shed on fire. Units arrived on scene to find a shed fully involved and extending to the house. Chief 812 (running as Battalion Chief 806) arrived shortly after and established the command.  Command requested the box to be filled due to the possible extension to the house.  Engine 812 responded fourth due on the box with four volunteers. On arrival, Engine 812 picked up Engine 811's supply line and the crew stood by on side "A". The initial street alarm got a quick knock on the shed and extension to the house.  Engine 812 went in service a short time later.    

January 5, 2011 - At 1936 hours, Truck 812 was alerted to 10411 Glenmore Drive in Company 41’s first due for a reported house on fire.  The first units arriving on scene advised that that they had two sheds and brush on fire to the rear of the correct address of 2601 Powder Mill Road.  Truck 812 arrived on scene and split crews to help Engine 841’s line knock the fire, while the rest of the crew went to work opening up both sheds.  Truck 812 cleared the scene in just under an hour.

January 3, 2010 - At 1251 hours, PSC struck the box for 161 West Way in Company 35's first due for smoke in the building with alarm bells sounding.  Shortly after dispatch, Engine 835 arrived to find a Garden Style Apartment building with smoke showing.  Engine 812 stretched a line to the floor above and was able to make quick work of some extension from the apartment below.  After completing this task, Engine 812 was reassigned the floor below.  Engine 812 operated on the scene for just under two hours.