At approx. 23:59, Co. 13 (1st due), Co. 8 (Moneta) 2nd due, Co. 1 (Bedford) RIT, Medic 14 (BCoFR career truck), Squad 4 (Chamblissburg), and RS-2 were dispatched to the 8000blk of Stewartsville Rd. for reports of a possible fire. Medic 14 was first to arrive to find a 150' x 50' barn with smoke and flames showing. E-13 (w/6) arrived shortly after Medic 14 and gave the same size up and established the command. Command (Chief Neel) advised the next in unit (W-13 w/5) to catch the dry hydrant and lay out their 5in supply line to E-13. With W-13 sitting on the hydrant, they relay pumped to E-13 and W 8-3. E-13's crew quickly stretched their 1.75" attack line to the A/D corner and started to attack the fire. Per command, W-13's crew went to work with the engine's crew. Due to the roof being compromised and heavy smoke conditions, Operations (AC-Dooley) had a 2.5" attack line brought to the "B" side of the structure. While this is going on, operations had L-1's crew of 6 split, 3 to make entry into another door on the "A" side of the structure to vent the heavy smoke conditions and 3 to assist with the "B" side entry team. Co. 13 and Co. 1 members worked together to bring the fire under control and overhaul the structure. Unfortunately the heavy smoke conditions claimed the lives of 4 horses. Units on scene: E-13, W-13, T-13, L-1, W 8-3, Medic 14, RS-2 (Lt. Hawkins), and Rehab 4. Units operated on scene for approx. 2 hours. Pics will be added shortly.

As some of you may know our own Lt. Patrick Gonzalez's father suddenly passed away on Friday 1-29-10. We ask that everyone keep Lt. Gonzalez and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. Arrangements are as follows: Visitation will be held at Lotz Funeral Home in Vinton on Wed. 2-3-10 from 2-4 and 6-8. The funeral service will also be at Lotz on Thursday 2-4-10 at 11am with a graveside service to follow at Mt. Olivet.

Company 13 held it's monthly training drill Thursday night and this month's topic was vehicle extrication. We were provided with two cars to train with. The weather wasn't cooperating very well so as always, we had to improvise. We placed both vehicles in the apparatus bays and had some excellent training. The newer members focused on some basic extrication techniques on one of the vehicles while the more experienced members did some more advanced techniques on the other. With over 20 members present, everyone had some good hands on training.

Company 13, Squad 13, and Medic 14-13 were dispatched to the 17000 blk of Stewartsville Road for a MVC with possible injuries and one vehicle on fire. Medic 14-13 was first to arrive to find a 2 vehicle accident, no entrapment, and one vehicle fully involved resting against the other.  Wagon 13(w/4) arrived to find the same with an additional exposure being a small commercial structure. W-13 established the command (Capt. Helms), shut down Stewartsville Road, and initiated an attack on the fire. E-13(w/3) arrived and assisted with the attack and gaining access to the engine compartment. The fire was contained to the one vehicle with no extension to the exposures. After the fire was extinguished, the road was reopened and traffic control was handled by Co.13. The wreckers arrived, removed the vehicles and Co. 13 units cleared the scene.

At 0953 Bedford Communications alerted Co.8 (Moneta) as 1st due, Co. 13 (Stewartsville-Chamblissburg) as 2nd due and RIT, and Co.11 (SML fire boats)  for water supply to 311 Oak Crest Dr for a structure fire. W-8-3 (w/3) was first to arrive to find a 1 story log home with heavy smoke and fire showing and marked it a working fire. E-13 (w/6) was second to arrive and Chief 13 (Neal) established the command. E-13's crew took their 1 3/4" attack line and began an aggressive interior attack on the fire. After they got the fire knocked down on the interior they completed a primary search that proved negative. As Division 1 was completing the search, Command ordered an evacuation of the structure due to heavy fire showing through the roof. E-13's crew backed out and began a short defensive attack. Crews reentered the structure and found the remaining fire in an addition on the roof. After an extensive overhaul, command released all units.

Units on scene: E-13, R-13, T-13, W8-3, W-8, T-8, Co. 11 Fireboats, Medic 14-8, M 8-5, and RS-2

Chief: Darin Neel, Assistant Chief: Allen Dooley, Deputy Chief: Brad Glidden, Captains: Chad Helms and Nathan Minnix, Lieutenants: Patrick Gonzalez, Jeff Dooley, Gerald Beheler. EMS Officer: John Ferron, Training Officer: Austin Martin.  President: Chris Wilson, Vice President: Fred Muldrew, Treasurer: Pete Dooley, Secretary: Karen Silvers, Chaplain: Don Weeks.

Company 13 is please to announce the launch of its 2009 year end video on You tube. You can view the video (with sound) on the following link.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEINXeHjg4o.

At 2030 Co 13 was dispatched to fill the RIT assignment for a working fire in Co 9's(Montvale) first due. Co.1 was initially dispatched as the RIT team and due to a delayed response from second due (Co. 19), Co.1 was moved up to second due and 13 to RIT. R-13 (w/6) was en route and per command was diverted to fill Co. 9's station. R-13 stood by until cleared by command (Chief Hawkins).

Around 18:30 hours Co.13 and Squad 13 were dispatched to Goodview road for reports of a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles. While responding Bedford Communications advised R-13 (w6) and E-13 (w6) that one vehicle had ran into a structure. R-13 arrived and confirmed the reports. R-13 officer (A.Dooley) established the command. Medic units from Sq 13 were on scene treating the driver of vehicle that had struck the building, the driver of both vehicle were uninjured. R-13 and E-13 crews secured the scene until law enforcement arrived and started their investigation. Per VASP Co.13 units could clear the scene. Units operating R-13 and E-13. Units operated on scene for about 1.5 hours.

Co. 13 received a call for a chimney fire at 118 Cascade Drive. W-13 and R-13 arrived to find a 2 story residence with nothing showing. AC-13 (Glidden) established the command and assigned W-13 to Division 1, E-13' s crew to the roof, while R-13's crew threw ground ladders. With the homeowner already extinguishing the fire, Division 1 had an all clear from the interior. Roof Division advised command that the debris had burned free and there were no obstructions in the flu. With no fire hazard, Command held the units on scene and cleared shortly after. 

Around 0200 hours Bedford dispatch alerted companies 12 (Hardy, 1st due), Co.13 (2nd due and RIT) and Squad 12 to Bandy Mill Rd for a reported structure fire. FC-12, Engine 12 and Tanker 12 arrived to find a two story 1930's balloon construction structure fully involved. FC-12 (Shell) established the command and called for a tanker task force due to limited water supply and that the fire was going to be all defensive attack operation. R-13, T-13 and E-13 arrived and started assisting Co.12 members with extinguishing the fire. Attack 8 and T-9 arrived and assisted T-12 and T-13 with shuttling water to the scene. Co.12, 13, and 9 members worked for about 2.5 hours to overhaul the rubbish before clearing up. Units operating: E-12, T-12, R-13, T-13, E-13, A-8, T-9, U-9 and Vinton squad 2. 

Around 19:30 hours Co.19 1st due(Shady Grove) and Co.13 (2nd due and RIT) and Squad 19 were dispatched to Meadow Lark Road for reports of a structure fire. With NO RESPONSE from Co.19 (Shady Grove FD), Co.13 was moved up to first due which added Co.1(Bedford) to the call to cover the RIT. Wagon 13(w/5) was the first unit to arrive to find one abandoned mobile home fully involved and in defensive attack mode, AC-13(Glidden) with the command. W-13's crew stretched 2 attack lines to the structure and started extinguishing the fire. R-13, T-13 and E-13 arrived and assisted the wagon crew with overhaul. T-12 arrived and unloaded one load of water before returning to quarters. Command cancelled the RIT due to no interior operations. Units operated on scene for about 2 hours before clearing up. Units operating: W-13, R-13, T-13, E-13 and T-12.  

Shortly after noon, Co.13 was dispatched to respond R-13 to assist our brothers in the city (Bedford) on a working restaurant fire per orders of County 1(Jones). R-13 (w/6) arrived and  per command (Cunningham) re-established the RIT. After being on scene for about an hour, Command advised R-13's crew to enter the structure and assist interior crews with salvage / overhaul. Despite major loss, fire crews worked very hard to bring the fire under control, Co.13 commends fire crews on scene for their efforts. For more info and pictures on this story, visit Company 1's website at: www.bedfordfd.com

Co.8 received a call for a MVA with several PI and entrapment on Stoney Fork Road. R-13 was on the air with 4 and responded to assist Co. 8 with the entrapment. R-13(w/4) was second to arrive just behind R-8(w/2). Per Co.8 member 830, AC-13 (Glidden) established the command. R-13's crew found no entrapment and EMS doing patient care in both medic trucks. R-13's crew checked both vehicles for leaks/hazards and provided EMS with a driver. Command 13 was enroute with 3 and was disregarded per command. VDOT arrived and shut down Stoney Fork Road while crews were on scene working. After the scene was secured, command was turned over to Co.8 and R-13 cleared. Units operating on scene: R-13, R-8, W-83.

At 17:45 hours Co.13, Sq 13 and Sq 12 were dispatched to Turner branch road and Stewart street for a reported head on collision. 1330 (Gonzalez) and DC-13 arrived to find 2 vehicles involved head on with 1 lane of Turner branch blocked. DC-13 (A.Dooley) established the command. After further investigation, two patients needed to be transported to the hospital. Engine 13 and Rescue 13 arrived and secured the vehicles and contained fluid spills from the vehicles while other Co.13 personnel controlled traffic until wreckers arrived and removed the vehicles Medic 13-1 and Medic 14 transported the two patients to CRMH. Units operated for over an hour. Units operating E-13, R-13, C-13, Medic 13, Medic 14 and VaSP.