Today, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) launches a Buy-a-Brick campaign to allow citizens to express their support for the new KVFD 9/11 Memorial and to those who lost their lives responding to the 9/11 attack.  Construction is scheduled to begin in the next 30 days thanks to the donation of services by construction businesses in the local community.
 
Located on the northern side of the department’s station at Connecticut and Plyers Mill Road, the Memorial will feature a 16-foot, burned and twisted steel beam from the point of impact at one of the World Trade Center towers. It will also include a section of the limestone façade damaged in the 9/11 Pentagon attack. The Memorial will commemorate the lives of all citizens, including police, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics who fell victim to the events of 9/11.
 
"It's twisted, burned, sheared and distorted," KVFD President Steven Semler said of the beam, estimated to be from between the 91st and 95th floors of one of the towers. "It fully reflects the horrific events of Sept. 11."
 
“A brick walkway will surround these pieces, creating a simple but dramatic monument to all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack. Members of the community may purchase standard-sized bricks (4”x8”) and personalize them with an engraved inscription,” Semler said. The engraved bricks are available through a secure PayPal-based website (https://kvfd.engravedbricks.com/) at $100 per brick, engraved and installed. (Despite the PayPall statement to the contrary, we have arranged for ALL bricks to be shipped direct to KVFD.)
 
In April of this year, the KVFD was awarded the steel beam by the Port Authority of New York, who were housing the rubble collected from the towers, in recognition of their efforts on Sept. 11, 2001. KVFD was one of several Washington, D.C.-area fire companies that responded to the Pentagon that day. In recognition, the U.S. Department of Defense donated the piece of limestone to the fire company.
 
KVFD also is home to a test garden for a Portland, Ore.-based project "Remember Me" Rose Garden, where roses are planted to memorialize victims of 9/11. KVFD will be one of the very few places in the nation commemorating all three national tragedies of 9/11 – the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania. 
 
All Buy-a-Brick donations are tax-deductible and will be used to offset costs associated with the Memorial and make donations to the charitable groups devoted to assisting the families of 9/11 victims. Surplus funds may be used for new emergency service apparatus in volunteer service to the community. Brick donations may also be mailed using the downloadable order form to KVFD at P.O. Box 222, Kensington, MD 20895. Please ensure your checks are made out to "KVFD 9-11 Memorial". 
 
Downloadable Optional Order Form for US Mail

Last week, Medic 705 and Engine 705 responded to a dispatch for “one unconscious” in an assisted living facility. Upon arrival, Medic Kristen Bert began an assessment of a 72 year old patient, while Engine Officer Ron Dowdy, Jr. began looking for prescription meds to gain insight into the patient’s medical history. While looking for the medication, Dowdy found instead, a suicide note and evidence of the patient likely overdosing on morphine and oxycontin. Based on that evidence, Kristin administered Narcan – a powerful neutralizer of narcotics – and the patient was brought back to consciousness and transported to the hospital.

The array of talent on both responding units was reflective of the depth of talent at KVFD. On the medic unit (in addition to Kristen), was Sijad Ali (Medic-in-training) as Driver, Pat Wellington (an RN), and (almost Dr.) Joey Grover. On the Engine, in addition to Dowdy, was driver Tim Sattler (also an RN), Josh Miller, “Pink” (Elizabeth Muir-Brown), and Dani Crane. Congratulations to this lifesaving team !

Despite on and off again rain showers, KVFD volunteers returned for another year at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair on August 18th. Thanks to the KVFD Auxiliary for providing dinner. Thanks to all who turned out.

Congratulations to FF/EMT Tim Sattler, recently elected to the KVFD Board of Directors representing an At Large seat for Station 25. Tim brings a wealth of experience and we know he will do well. (Photo by Chris Dimopolous)

Early Sunday morning, Kensington units were dispatched for the HOUSE ON FIRE in the Box 18-16 area. Units arrived finding heavy fire though the roof. Co.18 advanced a line into the second floor, and Co.5 stretched into the first. Units on scene worked hard, bringing the fire under control in only 15 minutes. No civilian injuries were reported, but 2 firefighters received minor injuries. They were treated and released.  Photos by Dani Crane. (Click on picture to see more)

Charging for Ambulance Service is Wrong

We believe it is simply wrong to charge anyone for such a basic public service as emergency transport to a hospital.

Residents Will Pay

While fee supporters promise County residents won't be charged ambulance fees, County taxpayers will have to make-up the difference between what is charged and what is collected – which could run into the millions of dollars for tax-paying County residents.

Some People Won't Call 911 in an Emergency

Studies show charging ambulance fees will deter 911 calls. In Fairfax County, EMS calls dropped after such fees were imposed.

Insurance Rates Will Go Up

Health insurance rates will go up if the County begins charging ambulance fees. And increased rates will fall on those least able to afford them, including the poor, working class families and small business owners.

It is Wrong to Charge for Volunteer Service

Hundreds of volunteers provide free EMS service to County residents. It is wrong for the County to charge for something that volunteers do as a community service. Learn more at www.stopambulancefee.org.


 

With the rapid onset severe storm of last Sunday, our people, as expected, served the community in the way that only KVFD does. The following storm report was submitted by Lt. Ron Dowdy, Jr.:

“I would like to advise you that your volunteers did it again on Sunday. As you all know, a massive storm moved though the area yesterday causing damage, power outages, house fires, and other calls for the 2nd half of the day. The station staffed with 15 volunteers prepared for another sleep-less night as we were advised of the impending storm. Calls for service started around 1600hours, and continued though until shift change at 0600 hours. Again, we ran a record number of calls (46) in the 16 hour time frame.

All members performed above any expectation I could imagine. With working house fires back to back, power line calls, and tree calls, the members did it with smiles on their faces. Personally I couldn’t thank everyone that helped, and provided amazing service to the community. I will list the members below who were here.

Engine- Louis Koutris, R. Dowdy Jr., Kristen Bert, Josh Miller, J. Flete, E. Muir-Brown
Medic- Kevin Gebicke, T. Spock, Dani Crane
Ambulance- Joe Yao. C. Sabate, S. Black, C. Michell
Mobile- D. Brandt, J. Rogers
Duty Officers- A. Hawkins, J.Heflin
Working the phones for condition red- Chris Thogersen”
 

Just after noon on Friday, units were dispatched for the reported bedroom fire in the 3900 block of Lantern Dr in Company 5's first Due. C742 arrived with fire showing from side delta of a one story single family dwelling. E705 and AT718 went to work on Division One. After making their way through banked down smoke and crowded halls, the fire was located in a back bedroom and quickly extinguished. Minimal extension was found in the attic and adjacent rooms.

The assignment was soon scaled down to 2 engines and 2 trucks. Crews remained on the fire scene for an extended period of time to complete the overhaul and assist the Fire Marshals. No injuries to home owners or fire crews were reported.(Photos by MFF Wayne Malcolm. Click on any photo to see all)

Unit response: E705, E721, E718, E719, E707, AT718, E719, RS742, A705, C742

The Kensington Volunteer Fire Dept. (Md) held its annual election on June 9, 2010. Congratulations to the following members on their election:

• Fire Chief: James P. Stanton
• Exec Vice President: Ron Dowdy Jr.
• Treasurer: Robert Arnold
• Vice Pres (HR): Linda Jones-Williams
• Admin Div Board Rep: Ernesto Moretti
• Station 5 Board Rep: Daniel Brandt
• Station 21 Board Rep: Lynn Russell
• Station 25: Robert Cox, Jr
• Budget & Finance Rep at Large: Arthur Hawkins
• Trial Board:  Keith Golden; Karen Levy; Arthur Baker; Chris Dimopoulos; Joseph Yao; Myron Kalfoglou; Maxine Siegel
• (Photo by John Connell)

On Friday May 21st, the KVFD Friday Night Crew was called out for an 18-16 Box. While responding as the second due Engine, WVRS Rescue Co. 2 arrived and advised the incoming units of a working fire. Engine-705B arrived, and completed the water supply for Engine-718. Crews went to the reported floor and found heavy smoke in one of the apartments. It was soon discovered that the actual fire was on the second floor. Crews entered the apartment finding fire throughout. E718 made the attack on the first floor, as E705B stretched to the 2nd floor extinguishing the fire on that floor. The event was limited to the Box Alarm and RID units. The scene was cleared in less than two hours. (Click on any photo to see all)