Thanks to all that purchased tickets in OC. If you missed us or couldn't make it down. You can purchase a ticket at the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore.
 
Thursday, July 24 11:00AM - 5:00PM 

Friday, July 25 11:00AM - 5:00PM 

Saturday, July 26 10:00AM - 3:00PM 

In the Firecompanies.com booth #2304. While the engine will not be on display we will have information sheets available. 

We are raffling off our 1987 Seagrave Pumper. Where else can you buy a Fire Engine in this shape for only $50? You have a better chance of winning with us (1 in 1,000) than the Maryland State Lottery...and you don't have to find any loose change to scratch your ticket! So if you are wondering the specs of the Engine, we got you covered, just look below: 1987 Seagrave Pumper 1250 GPM Pump 400 Gallon Tank Poly-Tank Total Pump Replacement 3 Years Ago Cosmetic Rehab 3 Years Ago Detroit Diesel 6V92 Allison Automatic Transmission 123,000 miles Updated Light Package 4 Door Cab and Seating For 6 EVERYTHING WORKS!!!! For More Information Contact The Station: 301-336-3731 and ask for an Officer! 

If you would like to purchase a ticket and are not in the area you can send a self addressed stamped envelope along with a check to the firehouse. 1415 Ritchie Marlboro Rd. Capital Heights MD 20743. Once the check has cleared the bank your tickets will be mailed.

As Engine 371 was clearing a crash on the Capital Beltway the box alarm was struck for 3315 Walters Lane. The Engine which is not due on the call was picked up due to their location and arrived 3rd. Chief 26A (Ingram) advised they had a terrace level unit going, at that time 371 was advised to stretch a line to the floor above and check for extension the crew helped with overhaul and returned to service in just over an hour and a half.

The Officers and Members of the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of Victor H. Size, the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department, and the United Communities Volunteer Fire Department on the loss of a good friend. Victor has spent countless hours interacting with the members of Ritchie over the years, whether it be on calls, during training, or attending meetings and conferences. Victor was instrumental in many of Metro's Emergency Preparedness training as well as responses. It has been documented that he provided over 15,000 personnel locally and nationwide with training through his position as Fire Life Safety Liaison and Emergency Management Officer. We would like to take this time to thank his family for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy so many memories of Victor. Funeral arrangements have been made, with viewing at the Robert T. Evans Funeral Home, located at 16000 Annapolis Road in Bowie, Maryland on Sunday July 6, 1400 to 1700 hours and 1900 to 2100 hours. A fire department memorial service will be held at 20:00 hrs that day. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur at 10:00 AM on Monday July 7 at Sacred Heart Church, Annapolis Road in Bowie, Maryland. Internment will follow at Lakemount Memorial Gardens 900 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, Maryland. Departments wishing to bring apparatus to participate in the memorial services should contact Marlboro VFD Fire Chief Tim Clark at 301-830-0102, Cell, or Clinton VFD Fire Chief Robert Small at 240-417-1921, Cell. Information and Photo Courtesy of Marlborofire.com

The 4th of July would turn out to be an eventful one for the Ritchie Volunteers. Starting their day, the crews were at the store on Donnell Drive in 26's area, when the pedestrian struck was dispatched for Donnell Drive and Rt. 4. E371 advised PSC of their location and were added to the call. Arriving first, the crew found a pedestrian lying in the roadway. The crew started resuscitation efforts, and turned the pt over to arriving EMS units. The patient was pronounced dead on the scene. The rest of the day would be full of AFA's. Medic Locals, and some Local Assignments. In the evening hours, E371 responded to Walker Mill Park for a Med Local, and was greeted by 93.9 WKYS staff with a pt. that had fainted. No EMS care was needed, but the crew did manage to grab a picture with some staff members. The day would end as eventful as it started with a 2 Alarm fire next to Co. 26's Fire Station. The crew from E261 called it in with Heavy Smoke coming from the building next to their station requesting the Box and a 2nd Alarm. E371 was added with the Working Fire Dispatch and arrived to lay Dual Lines to side Charlie. The crew went right to work opening up bars and doors, venting windows, throwing ladders, and of course stretching lines. The crew worked for over 2 hours on numerous assignments before being released. On a side note, the crew did not get to see any fireworks displays, but were comforted by listening to all of the local shows going off during their time on the streets.

The Officers and Members of the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department send our condolences to the Findley Family, Prince George's County Police Department, and the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department. On Friday June 27th, Cpl. Richard Findley was perfoming a traffic stop on a suscipous vehicle when he was killed in the line of duty in Laurel, MD. Cpl. Richard Findley was an Active and Life Member of the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department. He leaves behind his wife Kelly and 2 young daughters. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Findley and family as well as fellow Officers of PGPD and Brothers at BVFD Co. 31.

After clearing an early morning Medic Local, E371 was dispatched to the house fire in the 15300 block of Jenkins Ridge Road in Bowie. First arriving units reported Heavy Fire through the roof. The Engine (with 5 Volunteers) arrived 3rd, laying the secondary water supply to side Alpha. The crew stretched the 1 1/2" Bumper Line to the Second Division to assist crews with extinguishment. The crew worked for quite some time knocking down the fire and opening up. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, the crew backed out and started to Rehab. During this time, units overhauling on the interior discovered a fatality on the Second Floor. E371 was reassigned to the Side Charlie Division, working on opening up and hitting hot spots. E371 remained on the scene packing up and assisting crews for 4 hours.

At 1431 hours, Engine 371 was dispatched on the 2nd Alarm to 4141 Branch Ave. for the Comm. Building Fire. After arriving in staging, the units were pulled to assist with overhaul and wetting down hot spots. The crew worked for a little over 2 hours, and was released at 1709 hours. Thanks to all of those who stayed back to provide coverage during Beach Week.

At 1011 hrs Engine 371 was sent out for a MVC as they were pulling on scene PSC advised them they were upgrading the assignment. The crew from 371 found a box truck that had struck a 32 passanger bus and struck a parked car head on. The driver of the box truck was entrapped with a large laceration to his head. the Rescue Engine from 33 arrived and began to extricate. In about 7 minutes the patient was handed to awaiting ems personal.

Just before 1100 hours Engine 371 was alerted 3rd due for the reported house fire. Minutes after the box alarm was struck Engine 51 (Capital Heights) was laying out reporting smoke showing. As the engine was coming up the road it was noticed they were now going to be 2nd due and took that position, at which time they were tasked with placing a back up line in service on the first floor. Engine 371 was on scene for just over an hour. Chief 8 (Mcgill) had the command.

On a day that saw the Volunteers from Ritchie take in 16 runs, it was a day none of us will soon forget. Following an early morning medical and 9I, the day really began at 0652. 0652- Double pulled for a Box Alarm in Co. 23's area on Cross St. 2nd and 3rd due. The two crews from Ritchie arrived immediately behind Truck Co. 26 which reported a working fire. The wagon established a water supply while the pumper laid an additional line. The crews went to work stretching a back-up line and checked exposures. Crews cleared the scene at 0755. One may call it a good day with a working fire. But the day had just begun. 0922- Box Alarm in Co. 46's area on Bennington Dr. found the Volunteers from Ritchie arriving as Co. 46 was running their attack line. Crews found a fire out upon arrival. 1032- With SouthSide crews working a serious accident on Branch Ave. the Volunteers were out the door again to Copperville Way in Co. 32's for a reported house fire. Dispatched as the 3rd due engine company, we arrived and laid from a seconday water source only to find we had arrived 2nd and ended up establishing Co. 32's water supply as well. Crews from Ritchie stretched the 250 into the home which had fire in the basement with extension to the 1st floor. The crew assisted with searches, extinguishment, and opening up. We cleared this one at 1132. 1145- The morning was not over boys and girls as the engine was dispatched to Manor Gate Terr. in Co. 20's first due for a 911 hang up stating the house was on fire. We didnt make it to this one as Co. 20 arrived and found a child playing with the phone. 1158- The Volunteers were on Ritchie Marlboro Road passing Marlboro Ridge when multiple units were told to copy and they were sent to Karen Blvd in Co. 8's area for a reported town house fire. Co. 26 went on the scene with nothing evident and then immediately changed their mind to report smoke showing from the 1st floor. The Volunteers from 37 arrived as the second arriving fire truck after traveling across their entire 1st due and picked up 26's line. The Volunteers were assigned Division 1 and following a quick search and size up found Division 1 clear and they were reassigned to Division 2. This fire was contained to a couple mattresses and box springs and units cleared at 1239. If youre counting at home, that's 5 straight Box Alarms with nothing in between and 3 of which were working fires. Our day continued with a number of locals, medicals, and crashes and ended with a working extrication on Ritchie Marlboro Road in Co. 20's first due which the Volunteers cleared at 2203.

Just after 2000 hrs, Engine 81 was sent on a AFA at 600 63rd St. in their 1st due. They arrived to find heavy fire showing requesting the box. Engine 372 was already on the air and requested to run the box. Engine 372 arrived on the scene and assumed 3rd due responsibilities. The crew advanced the 400' to side C of the house while Engine 171 laid supply line from 372. Crews encountered fire in the basement as well as the 1st floor. The crew wet down hot spots and checked for extension with crews from 33 and 8. The assignment was scaled back to 2 and 2. Engine 372 returned to service at 2049 hrs.

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At 1400hrs E372 was dispatched to 620 Ritchie Rd for the riot and shooting in front for that location. E372 arrived on scene to find an attempted car jacking, with one person injured. The engine returned to service at 1412. Just after getting settled back at quarters, the engine was dispatched to Ritchie Rd and Milky Way. E372 quickly arrived on scene to find a tour bus that had wiped out several vehicles, with multiple people possibly trapped. E372, C37A established command. After all said and done 5 pt's where transported to local hospitals. E372 cleared 30 minutes later.

At 0142 hours, Engine 372 and Chief 37A responded with 6 Volunteers to the outer loop of 495 near Ritchie Marlboro Road for one overturned with people trapped. After sizing up the loops, the vehicle was found to be on the inner loop just south of Ritchie Marlboro. Engine 372 and Chief 37A arrived along with units from Co.23 to find 2 patients trapped in the SUV. Crews started patient care and sizing up the extrication. Squad 8 arrived and began removing the patients from the SUV. Two safety lines were put in place by Engine 372 and Engine 235 due to the positioning of the car and the rescue workers. Both victims were removed and turned over to awaiting EMS on scene. Chief 23 had Command. Engine 372 was clear at 0218 hours.

While the engine crew was put pre-planning new buildings in the first due they were alerted to the 6500blk of Hansford St in District Heights along with other first and third battalion units. Engine 26 arrived with smoke showing and shortly after advised units there was a working basement fire and they were holding it at the steps. Engine 372 arrived as the 4th due engine with 4 volunteers and went to work stretching a back-up line to the first floor. The engine crew preformed a primary search of the second floor and checked for vertical extension on first and second floors. With all fire knocked and all extension confined command held 2 and 2 with others picking up and going in service. No injuries were reported.