Glen Echo Fire Department News

Glen Echo Fire Department was proud to have joined the Mohican Hills block party on October 22, along with Yellow Boomerang. Yellow Boomerang is a community-based charity that supports residents of Montgomery County and surrounding areas in need of necessities such as food, clothing, school supplies, and housewares. Conduit Road Fire Board member Gloria Levin handed out File of Life to the residents. File of Life is a small piece of paper that has all of the latest medical information, includi...

On the morning of 6th July 2022, units were dispatched to a two-alarm high-rise fire at the Kenwood Condominium in Glen Echo Fire Department’s first due. PE711 was first on the scene, and crews quickly knocked out the fire on the 12th floor.  resident rescue During their primary search, firefighters rescued one resident in the fire apartment. A711B transported patient priority two to Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for smoke inhalation.  Around 85 firefighters were dispatched...

In May 2022, GEFD observed National Stop the Bleed Month with a training course for its members. Paramedic Sgts. Rebekha Collins and Cannon Haworth offered video presentations and hands-on instruction to give Glen Echo’s first responders practice providing life-saving care. Volunteers took turns applying pressure, packing wounds, and administering pressure dressings and tourniquets to dummy props. 

Happy First Responders Day! In 2021, Congress passed a bill designating Oct. 28 as a federal holiday to honor the sacrifice of firefighters, EMTs, and police officers around the country. The law declares that “during times of national crisis, first responders have consistently been a source of aid, hope, and comfort for all Americans.” GEFD thanks volunteers and all the tireless professionals in the community for the time and toil they dedicate to service.

On September 12, 2021, recently retired Sycamore Island Club caretaker Joe Hage was presented the Glen Echo Fire Chief’s Citation recognizing his contributions to an August 1, 2021 rescue operation. A woman was seriously injured while hiking on a trail along the Potomac River in Virginia. The ruggedness and remoteness of the rescue scene prevented Fairfax County from evacuating the patient by land; low water precluded access from Virginia boat ramps; and a helicopter with hoist capability...

On April 9, 2021 evening, units from Glen Echo Fire Department responded to next-door house fires in Potomac, MD. When a severe thunderstorm passed through the area, two houses were struck by lightning, sparking attic fires. aid station While crews worked to put out the flames in the two separate structures, GEFD volunteers established an aid station to assess and treat any injured civilian occupants and firefighters. MCFRS units were on the scene for several hours with dozens of personnel to...

The Capital Crescent Trail was crowded as bicyclists and walkers captured a few final moments of summer-like days before fall fully took hold when witnesses saw a man in his early fifties collapse a few yards from the Massachusetts Avenue pedestrian bridge. Bystanders called 911. Within moments the youthful-looking man laying on the pavement stopped breathing. Someone checked for a pulse, but none was found. Recognizing the man was in cardiac arrest, a companion began hands-only CPR. Medical e...

At three in the morning, members of the Glen Echo Fire Department began waking up. It was not a fire or medical emergency, but it was another call to serve. Glen Echo volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, along with the Department’s Chief and Operations officer were designated to support the 59th Presidential Inauguration. In previous years, the Department had deployed one or two units to the event, but this year the little Department nestled in a small community at the bottom edg...

Glen Echo Fire Department and Santa are pleased to announce the 2020 “Santa Run” schedule. This year, Santa will be visiting from December 14th to December 23rd. As with years past, Santa will do everything he can to make sure he visits each neighborhood on the appointed dates, but this year he wants to make doubly sure everyone stays warm and safe. Some modifications have been made to help protect all of you, as well as Santa and his helpers: Santa asks that they wave from the ho...

On August 7, 1954, the Glen Echo Fire Department relocated to their present home on Massachusetts Avenue and Sangamore Road. The dedicated volunteers at the Glen Echo Fire Department provide tens of thousands of hours of service responding to emergency calls and training in their roles as firefighters, EMTs, medics, and trainees.  Providing these services while maintaining a 66-year-old building is a financial challenge. The Glen Echo Fire Department thanks everyone for being so gener...

The new Chief of the Glen Echo Fire Department (GEFD), William (Bill) Dunn has been working in and for fire/rescue services since his teen years in the mid-1990s. Bill grew up behind a local fire station, and, as a junior and senior at Georgetown Prep, he volunteered—earning independent service study credits—with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD), station #33 in Potomac. Subsequently, he transferred to station #3, RVFD’s headquarters (RVFD subsumes four stations)...

Happy National EMS Week. It is a time that GEFD likes to thank members for all that they do. In honor of the providers, here are a few suggestions for how members can get involved this week: Volunteer: GEFD is always accepting applications to join the team. There are opportunities to volunteer as an EMT, firefighter/EMT, or administrative member. GEFD will definitely find a spot in the EMS and fire family.  Donate: GEFD is always very grateful for donations to help maintain the fire st...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has announced the winners of the 2018 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards, sponsored by Pierce Manufacturing. Volunteer Fire Chief, Herbert Leusch, of the Glen Echo Fire Department in Bethesda, Maryland, and Career Fire Chief, Joanne Hayes-White, of the San Francisco Fire Department are this year’s honorees. A selection committee appointed by the IAFC reviewed nominations for active chiefs of departments that have shown exemplary contribu...