DCFD Photos, old or new

[davemcclung]

[quote name='dcfireman' post='153239' date='Oct 2 2007, 21:42 ']

Thanks Hawkins Point and fd141 for the memory jogger.

That has been a repeat block. Back around 1979 or 1980, 2611 Adams Mill (next-door – side D to the recent 4th Alarm in 2633 Adams Mill) had a good 2nd Alarm. Then, in 1985, 2630 Adams Mill, across the street next to the park, had a multiple fatality extra alarm basement fire. The basement had been subdivided into many illegal cubbyhole apartments. Fire twice returned to 2611 Adams Mill in 1987: a 2nd Alarm and Specials in June, and another 2nd Alarm with Specials in October. Just before Christmas in 1990, E-21, E-09, and Truck 9 were sent to investigate smoke in the area of Adams Mill and Lanier. That’s when E-21 found 1801 Calvert St., the “flat iron”, with the cockloft already rolling – 2nd Alarm and three (?) specials. And, of course, the blaze at 2633 Adams Mill Rd. NW early Monday morning, where multiple 50’ ground ladders were thrown in addition to everything else.



10-01-07 photo looking south (SE) on Adams Mill Rd. from Ontario Pl. NW: Engine 4 supplying Engine 21 – both wagons are 2006 Seagraves.[/quote]





If I read the article in the Washington Post online correctly DCFD had to lay right around 7,000 feet of supply lines to get enough water to fight the 4 alarmer on Adams Mill Rd. Many of the watermains in DC are still ancient 6" mains. The department has bitched for years about needing to replace the old mains which are still a large part of the DC watermain system. The quasi public agency that handles the water system has a 20 year plan to replace them. I just wonder how many more 4 alarm fires (oups the fire at the Georgetown Library where lack of water due to mains was only a 3 alarmer) do you need to have in DC before they replace those damn watermains. Just goes to show that you can have the best firefighters, best rigs, best equipment, best dispatch setup and if you don't have a good water system you are plain screwed.