Newsletter

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  1718hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1 and Squad 1 to the intersection of Oakwood Street and Longwood Avenue for the report of a motorcycle vs box truck MVC with subject pinned underneath the motorcycle and truck.  Chief 1,Wagon 1 (with four), and County 10 arrived at 1720hrs to find the same. Rescue 1 (with six) arrived just seconds later and began stabilizing to raise the truck with air bags. Utilizing air bags, floor jack, and cribbing, R-1's crew quickly raised the truck, freeing the pinned victim at 1730hrs. Medic 14-9 transported the patient to the BMH helipad where Lifeguard 10 transported the patient to Roanoke Memorial with life threatening injuries. Units returned to service at 1809hrs. Total Company 1 personnel: 15.  

Thursday, June 6, 2013  2023hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 1 (Bedford-1st due), 8 (Moneta-2nd due), and Rescue 5 (Forest-RIT) to 922 Grand Arbre Drive for the report of a kitchen fire in a duplex. County 10 and Chief 1 were first to arrive at 2027hrs to find moderate smoke showing from a two-story wood frame multiple dwelling. Wagon 1 (with four) arrived next and stretched a line into the interior as the Fire Attack Group while Rescue 1's crew (with six) split to start the primary search, throw ground ladders, and control utilities. Medic 14-8 searched the adjoining apartment while County 10 assumed safety. Wagon 8 staged on the hydrant as water supply but with a quick knock down and no extension command returned them to service to stand by at fire station 1. Two cats were located inside the fire apartment and brought out to safety where crews successfully resuscitated one. No other injuries were reported. Units operating: W1, R1, C1, W8, Medic 14-8, Medic 1, and County 10. Total Company 1 personnel: 16.

Thursday, June 6, 2013  Like eleven other Virginia communities,  Bedford provided a company of soldiers (Company A) to the 29th Infantry Division when the National Guard's 116th Infantry Regiment was activated on 3 February 1941. Some thirty Bedford soldiers were still in that company on D-Day; several more from Bedford were in other D-Day companies, including one who, two years earlier, had been reassigned from the 116th Infantry to the First Infantry Division. Thus he had already landed in both Northern Africa and Sicily before coming ashore on D-Day at Omaha Beach with the Big Red One. Company A of the 116th Infantry assaulted Omaha Beach as part of the First Division's Task Force O. By day's end, nineteen of the company's Bedford soldiers were dead. Two more Bedford soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign, as did yet another two assigned to other 116th Infantry companies. Bedford's population in 1944 was about 3,200. Proportionally this community suffered the nation's severest D-Day losses. Recognizing Bedford as emblematic of all communities, large and small, whose citizen-soldiers served on D-Day, Congress warranted the establishment of the National D-Day Memorial here. Let us not forget all of those who died that day and the sacrifices they made for our great country.

Thursday, May 30, 2013  0938hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 9 (Montvale-1st due), 19 (Shady Grove-2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1026 Peaceful Drive for reports of smoke showing from a mobile home. Wagon 1 (with four) and Rescue 1 (with six) had just cleared from a MVC with rollover when the run came in. Wtih no response from the second due company, Wagon 1 responded with Rescue 1 as the second due engine company. Engine 9 was first to arrive to find a working fire and began stretching a line to the front door. Rescue 1 was next to arrive and its crew assumed Fire Attack Group 1 and the officer (Stevens) established command. While R1 advanced a line into the interior Wagon 1 conducted the primary search as Search Group 1. The fire was marked under control within fifteen minutes of E-9's arrival but overhaul was extensive and lasted almost two hours. Units operating: E9, R1, W1, T9, T13, Medic 14-5, and County 10. Total Company 1 personnel: 14.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013  0825hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 7 (Huddleston-1st due), 8 (Moneta-2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1079 Glenwood Drive (Route 43 South) for a reported house on fire. SOC 4 (Wade) was first to arrive to find a single-story wood frame private dwelling with smoke showing from side charlie. Wagon 1 (with five) was first to arrive and split its crew to establish two out and fire attack group 1. The room and contents fire was quickly located on the B/D corner and marked under control at 0852hrs. All searches proved negative. Units operating: W-1, P-7, W-8, T-7, Medic 14-8 and County 10. Total Company 1 personnel: 10.

Monday, May 6, 2013  1404hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 9 (Montvale-1st due), 19 (Shady Grove-2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1071 Murray Hollow Road for a reported structure fire. Wagon 1 (with five) and Engine 9 arrived together to find fire showing from a single-story wood frame private dwelling. E9 (Dooley) established command and assigned W-1's crew to Fire Attack group 1. W1's nozzleman and backup stretched a line into the interior to make an aggressive interior attack while Wagon 1 established water supply to E9. With no response from the second due company, Rescue 1 (with five) was assigned to the run but returned to service before arriving to allow it to divert to a MVC with entrapment. Units operating: E9, W1, T9, Medic 14-9, County 10, and County 3. Wagon 1 returned to service at 1618hrs. Total Company 1 personnel: 14.