January
21, 2008 - At
1330 hours, units with the 1st Battalion were
alerted to the 1200 block of K Street, NE for a
building. E27 responded 4th due on the second
alarm and operated with units at a three story
tire store with fire on the first and second
floors. Just minutes later conditions rapidly
deteriorated on the second floor changing from a
light smoke condition to thick smoke banked down
to the floor and an intense rise in the heat
level. Command ordered all units out of the
building and after ensuring that all companies
were accounted for, quickly went to defensive
operations. E27 arrived and became the exposure
group leader. With a massive fire load of tires
and other materials the fire developed into a
raging inferno that could be seen for miles. The
fire could not be controlled until the application
of foam. This was just one of five fires in the
city during #2 platoon. Mutual aid companies from
Prince George's County, Montgomery County,
Arlington County, Fairfax County, Naval District
of Washinton, and Andrews Air Force Base Fire
Departments.
