ALL Day the Volunteers from Company 17 and some of the other stations around the County maintained 100% Volunteer Crews during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. For most of the day it was a little slow around the Boulevard Heights area. With Dedicated EMS and Engine Crew, the 11 Volunteers took in only 3-Ambo calls and 5-Engine runs. 3-AFA's, one 1st Due CO call to 3700 blk of Forest Glen Ct. bringing Engine 171 w/7 Volunteers, Ambulance 179 w/2 Volunteers and Asst. Chief Morgan from Company 17, along with TK26, HazMat Co.30, BC3 & EMS11. After the units from 17 investigated to find all readings to be negative C17A Morgan returned the units holding it as a good intent call.
Later the crew was dispatched on a Working Fire in Oxon Hill. Just around 1720hrs. PSC began receiving calls for reported Smoke coming from the Building at 4545 Wheeler Rd (Co.42's 1st Due). A Box Alarm was dispatched bring units from the 3rd & 5th Battalions. Chief 21 Washington arrived to find Smoke showing from the rear and established the Wheeler Rd Command on Side C-Charlie. Engine 171 w/5 Volunteers (3rd Due) arriving 2nd, laid in a secondary line for water supply and took a position on Side A-Alpha (this was due to the way the building is situated and other apparatus placement). The crew advanced a 1-3/4" attack line to Side C-Charlie to find smoke coming from a garage/storage area under the building. Assisted in gaining entry and extinguishment. The ALL VOLUNTEER Crews from Engine 171, Engine 291 and Truck 29 worked in the fire area while the other units took care of the upper floors. After all searches and extension checks proved negative Command scaled back to hold 2+1. Engine Co.17 racked-up and returned to service "On a Job Well Done"!
