FEMS History (cont.) As some units from the Woolworth's fire and additional third alarm companies battled this outbreak, another box alarm was sounded for a fire that was quickly extinguished in the Washington Paper Store a few blocks away. But, there was still worse to come as a fire in the Pillsbury Warehouse on H Street, NE, quickly grew to fourth alarm proportions. By now, it had become obvious that a maniacal arsonist was loose. Completely stripped of its resources, the DC department sent out a plea for help to Baltimore and suburban communities. Baltimore rushed seven engine companies to Washington, and suburban Maryland and Virginia sent a few more. Almost all of these units saw action. Before the night ended, there were two more multiple alarm fires. This reign of arson was finally halted when John Joseph Fisher was nabbed by police after he threatened a citizen attempting to pull Fire Box 89 to report the last blaze. The White House, our president's home and a national monument, is no stranger to fire, having suffered six fires up to and including 1929. On Christmas Eve of that year, five alarms were sounded for a blaze involving second floor storerooms in the mansion's West Wing. President Herbert Hoover and his son rushed from a Christmas party in another wing of the Executive Mansion to rescue presidential papers. Nothing, obviously, is sacred from fire. The department continued its growth through the latter part of the 20th century, developing a reputation as one of the finest firefighting forces in the country. One of its darkest moments came on a day that became known as Black Thursday. On the morning of January 15, 1953, a runaway passenger train careened into Union Station and plunged through the floor. Firefighters instituted a major rescue operation to aid the 36 who were injured. While this operation was in progress, a minor fire in Standard Tire and Battery Store approximately 10 blocks away suddenly turned into tragedy. An explosion that tossed firefighters through the air like duckpins rocked the building. Forty-two firefighters were injured, but miraculously none were killed. What may very well be the department's finest hour came in those terrible days following the shooting death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Rioting and arson swept the city and the entire firefighting force, manning all available apparatus, fought to protect life and property. Some 70 mutual aid companies aided the DC units; and before it had ended, over 500 initial blazes and 300 rekindles had been extinguished. This one statistic says it all: 120 rescues were recorded by firefighters during those four traumatic days. Today, the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Department stands ready to serve the residents of and visitors to our Nation's Capitol. Manning 33 engine companies and one fireboat company, 16 truck companies, 3 heavy duty rescue squads, and a variety of special units, the firefighters of the District of Columbia reflect the pride of all of us in this country who bear an association with America's Bravest. Page 3 of 3      1  2  3