Incident Information

Date: 12/5/01
Address: 4205 Suitland Rd
Time : 1000 Hours
Company First Due: 17

Units Responding:
Engines 171, 261, 83, 231, 294, 41
Truck 5, 21, 22
Tower 33
Rescue Squad 27
Ambulance Rescue 6, 88
Medic 29

Command -
Southern Ops Commander

Just after 1000 Hours Engine 83 and Ambulance 88 responded for a building fire at the United States Census Bureau at 4205 Suitland Road in Co 17's area. Engine 171 arrived on the scene reporting nothing showing from the very large and complex building. Engine 83 arrived and took side 3 of the structure. The crew from 8 ran the 400ft line into the building. Company 17 took side 1 and took the standpipe pack inside. Once inside units encountered heavy smoke conditions and fire involvement in one of the towers where boxes of records are kept. Engine 171 and Engine 83 extinguished the fire as the truck companies ventilated the building. Due to the amount of work required, command special called numerous units to assist. The fire was extinguished but the long task of overhauling the area began. The census bureau has been the site of many other fires of the same nature in the past. The units from 8 did not clear the scene until almost 1630 Hours, more than 6 hours later.