At 2318 hrs. Queenstown, Goodwill & Grasonville VFD were alerted for a barn fire on Warrington Farm Lane off N/B Rt.301. A passerby spotted the flames and called 911. Engine 32, Engine 33, Engine/Tanker 3 & Chief 3 responded from Queenstown. First piece arrived on location with an approx 25x50 structure well involved. Chief 3 (Nelson) had command. A portion of the roof had already collapsed. Equipment remained on location for approximately 2 hrs. Cause of the fire has been ruled accidental.

*Photos from Grasonville VFD website* www.gvfd2.com

You can prevent tragedies simply by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan. All smoke alarms in your house should be tested once a month, and their batteries replaced annually. Every family should develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends these measures because working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan will increase your protection in case of a fire.
 

Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. Most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. Most deaths and injuries occur in fires that happen at night while the victims are asleep.


Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms in the home are considered one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by enabling residents to detect fires early in their development. The risk of dying from fires in homes without smoke alarms is twice as high as in homes that have working smoke alarms.


All smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month to make sure they operate properly. If a smoke alarm is battery operated, replace the batteries at least once a year to make sure the alarm will work when it is needed. It’s a good practice to make replacement of batteries a seasonal routine, such as when resetting clocks in the fall or spring. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing smoke alarms and replacing the batteries.


If your battery-powered smoke alarm begins to emit a low-power warning, usually a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately with a fresh one. This will ensure that your smoke alarm will continue to provide protection.

At approximately 7:00 PM Queen Anne’s County dispatched Station 2 (Grasonville), Station 1 (Kent Island), Station 3 (Queenstown) and the Duty Fire Marshall for an explosion with fire in the Beach Harbor Community.

Utility 2 was the first to arrive on location and reported one structure fully involved with several small sheds on fire as well. Engine 25 arrived, Officer 207 (G. Mutchler) established “Beach Harbor” command and requested the Tanker Task Force. Command requested Truck 2 and Engine 32 to proceed back to the scene and all other units to stage on the hard service. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly and begin overhaul. The structure was a total loss and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshall’s Office.

*Photos & story courtesy of Fire In The Hole Photography* www.fithp.net

The Members of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Department, along with numerous invited guest celebrated our Installation of Officers held at the Bay Country Moose Lodge in Queenstown. Just a few of the guests included: 

Sheriff Gary Hofmann, Captain Williams & Lieutenant Embert from the Q.A. Sheriff's Office; Lieutenant Boardman from the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack; County Commissioner Paul Gunther; The Secretary of the MD Fire Chief's Association Pete Mellits; Dr Harry Rhodes & Dr Ron Franks.

After a wonderful meal catered by Helen Todd,  Jim Lewis started by introducing the invited guest, followed by President JC Lewis thanking everyone for attending. President Lewis continued by recapping some of the accomplisments of the past year, along with a break down of the hours spent by the volunteers of the department in 2009. Jeff Lewis followed by going over the number of calls run by Station 3 in 2009, along with the top 5 responders. Those 5 being: 1st Place Tyler Golt, 2nd Place Jason Heath, 3rd Place Chris Nash, 4th Place Timothy Palmer & 5th Place Lennie Anthony. EMS Captain Jim Lewis announced the Top 5 responders for EMS calls for the year. Those being: 1st Place Jim Lewis, 2nd Place Larry Scearce, 3rd Place Jennifer Warner, 4th Place Chris Pinder, 5th Place Ben Wilson.

Awards were presented to the following members:

Fire Fighter of the Year for under 5 years went to Tyler Golt

Fire Fighter of the Year for 5-15 years went to Shelly Nelson

Fire Fighter of the Year for over 15 years went to Chris Nash

Chief's Award presented to Terry Pinder

President's Award presented to Jim Lewis

Lion's Club Award presented to Jason Heath

S.E.W. Friel Memorial Award presented to Jennifer Warner

Special Thanks to the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department for providing a standby crew while our members attended the Installation.

Monday night at approximately 10:15 PM Queen Anne’s County Station 2 (Grasonville) was dispatched for an MVC with injuries on Route 50 at the Kent Narrows Bridge. The road conditions were starting to diminish due to a light snow fall on the shore. Engine 26 had arrived on location and was blocking two lanes of traffic to ensure a safe scene while the crew assisted with the accident. All was well until the crew was back in the Engine and waiting to return to the station.

A tractor and trailer was headed west bound and apparently did not see all of the BRIGHT FLASHING LIGHTS and side swiped Engine 26. With a crew of 6 on board, 4 of them were transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis where they were treated and released.

From now on when you see an emergency scene, please try to remember this incident and slow your vehicle down and pay attention to what is in front of you instead of the accident you are passing.

Firefighters and EMS personnel, whether they are paid or volunteer, risk their lives every day on the highway trying to help others in need. Our job is dangerous enough without having to worry about getting hit by a negligent driver. We are just as busy as everyone else; we all have families that we would like to return home safely to, but we take time out of our day to help someone in need.

THANK YOU for doing your part to keep us safe while we keep you safe.

Chief Anthony and the members of the Grasonville Vol. Fire Dept. would like to thank their brother firefighters and the community for the support, thoughts and prayers in their time of need.

*Story from Fire In The Hole Photography*  www.fithp.net

At 0648 hrs. Queenstown VFD was alerted along with Goodwill & Queen Anne Hillsboro VFD for a house fire at 368 Rolling Bridge. Engine 32 responded with 3 volunteers. Engine Tanker 4 was first piece on scene & reported smoke showing. Officer 405 (Bloodsworth) assumed command. Crew from Engine 32 assisted with extinguishment.

At 1826 hrs. Queenstown VFD was alerted for a MVA S/B Rt.301 & Rt.304. Rescue 3 went responding with 6 volunteers. Rescue 4 arrived on location & Officer 405 (Bloodsworth) assumed Rt.301 command. There were 3 vehicle involved. 2 patients transported by ground. Driver of the one vehicle was DOA upon arrival.

From all the members of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Department, we wish you a Happy & Safe New Year

On December 22, 2009 elections were held for the Officers for 2010. Below are the results:            

                                                 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Vince Anthony     Bryon Callahan      Dan Jewell      Jim Lewis     Stu Tarrant

 President           J.C. Lewis                 Secretary          Suzanne McLaughlin

Vice President  Bryon Callahan        Asst. Secretary  Michelle Nelson

                                Treasurer           Frank Russum

                                                FIRE LINE OFFICERS

Chief 301            Thomas Nelson        1st Asst. 302       Lonnnie Anthony

2nd Asst. 303    Frank Russum          Captain 304         J.C. Lewis

1st Lt. 305          Terry Pinder                2nd Lt. 306          Scott McClyment

                                Sergeant 307     Chris Nash

                                                  EMS OFFICERS

Administrator    Terry Pilkerton         Asst. Administrator  Larry Scearce

Captain                Jim Lewis                 Lieutenant                  Ben Wilson

                                  Lieutenant          Jennifer Warner

On December 17, 2009 Station 3 & Station 2 were alerted for a car fire at Extra Mart on E/B Rt. 50 in Queenstown. E32 arrived with one car fully involved. Officer 301 (Nelson) established Rt.50 command. Crew from Engine 32 stretched 100' 13/4 and extinguished the fire. Crew from Engine 26 assisted with extinguishing.

At 1800 hrs. Santa Claus stopped by the Queenstown VFD in his sleigh (Engine 33) to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. While at the station, numeruos children from the area were able to have some one-on-one time with Santa.

At 1318 hrs. Station 3 was alerted for an MVA involving 2 vehicles on Rt.50 & Arringotn Road. Rescue 3 went responding right away with 5 members, followed by Engine 33. Upon arrival Officer 307 (Lewis) established Rt.50 command. 1 patient refused treatment & Ambulance 30 transported 1 patient to Easton Memorial.

At 1816 hrs. Engine 33 was alerted to transfer to Station 5 Church Hill VFD due to a 2nd alarm in Sudlersville. Engine 33 went responding with 7 members. While enroute to Station 5, Engine 33 was diverted and transferred to Station 7 Crumpton.

On 11/05/09 at 2053 hrs. Box 4-2 was dispatched for smoke reported inside the United Methodist Church in Centrevllle. Equipment from Goodwill, Church Hill & Queenstown VFD responded on the call.. Investigation revealed smoke was from a malfunction in the furnance. Officer 405 (Bloodsworth) had command.

At 0718 hrs. Rescue 3 & Engine 33 were alerted to assist Station 4 on an MVA with entrapment at Rt.301 & Rt.304. Originally dispatched as a local rescue box, PM 400 arrived confirming a tractor trailer vs car with entrapment. Box was then upgraded to a rescue assignment, alerting Rescue 3 & Engine 33. Rescue 3 arrived on location and assisted Station 4's crew with extrication. Driver of the car was flown by MSP Trooper 6 to Shock Trauma & tractor trailer driver was transported to local facility. Officer 408 (Kiel) had command.