The tones went off and like thousands of firefighters everyday, Capt. Kimonti Oglesby, Lt. Curtis Warfield Jr and Firefighter John Klavon of the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and Montgomery County Fire-Rescue went out the door last week…along with a couple of dozen others. After all, it was a fire call and one firefighter in a car "might" work if the report turned out to be nothing…but just in case, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue and it’s companies sends a tad more…just in case. Just in case there are baby triplets trapped in the house. Ya neva know.
After arrival and finding it was what the caller reported, taking immediate interior actions and searching with interior and exterior support, they found the little babies. The babies Aiden, Bryson and Coleson Petrucelli remain alive, hospitalized in critical condition. The firefighters who rescued them are fine. They did their job. They took a few dollars of tax money and transformed it into priceless service…how ’bout that?
While some calls we respond to are not critical, many are…but we don’t know that until we get there and determine it. That’s why must send a first alarm that heavily matches the worst predictable outcome of the reported problem…and turn’m around it if it isn’t needed when we get there. That’s what’s best for the public-and those expected to handle the emergency. The purest form of local Government. The difference between a cheap penny-pinched insurance policy and one that costs a few bucks up front, but one that protects you and yours when you have a problem.
While we received numerous e-mails agreeing on the stupidity of even the suggestion by that writer
( http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?75977 ) of sending a Firefighter in a car to determine if the FD is needed, we also received a very small handful of e-mails from Firefighters who felt that maybe checking out reported fires might be a good idea. We aren’t going to debate that other than to suggest that those who "aren’t sure" swing by Washington Hospital Center and check out the Petrucelli kids. The alive Petrucelli kids due to heroic Maryland Firefighters as a part of a well staffed and heavy 1st alarm. There were no smoke detectors in the house. But thanks to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and all due companies and officers who responded simultaneously to that call, the babies are alive. Volunteer or Career Firefighters who think less staffing, less companies and less response is a good idea to save the taxpayers some pennies need to reconsider being firefighters.
FAMILY RELIEF FUND:
Here is an excellent account of the step by step actions taken from the moment the fire was reported:
Here is additional coverage from Dave Statter911 including the 9-1-1 call:
