THIRD ANNUAL HEROS SOFTBALL LEAGUE COMES TO A CLOSE Sunday, August 10, 2008 - On Sunday August 10th teams met on the fields of the Harford Community College for the 2008 “HEROS LEAGUE” softball tournament. The season started mid June bringing fire department teams from Chestnut Ridge, Darlington, Fawn Grove, Jarrettsville, Joppa Magnolia, and Havre De Grace. All teams showed great improvement from years prior and came out to play fun yet hard ball. Darlington Volunteers took the overall win in the tournament however placed second in the season. Havre De Grace Volunteers took the second place seat in the tournament and the number one seat for the overall season. The Joppa Magnolia Volunteers walked off the fields today with their heads up and grasped the third place seat in both the tournament and the overall season. The JMVFC would like to extend their gratitude to the Harford Community College and the good sportsmanship of all the teams. We look forward to another “HEROS LEAGUE 2009” summer season.

CHARCOAL GRILL SETS OUTSIDE OF HOME ON FIRE: CIVILIAN THOUGHT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER Monday, August 4, 2008 - At 1003 hours Abingdon and surrounding volunteers were alerted for a house reported on fire in the rear. Engine 1211 out of Aberdeen Proving Grounds was first to arrive with smoke showing from the roof and requested the second due engine to grab the plug. Engine 814 handled the second due assignment dropping 950' of 3" supply. Crews were met in the front yard by an elderly lady stating " I put the fire out". The two engine companies found a good portion of the "C/D" corner burned up to the roof on the exterior. Crews opened up the roof and interior walls finding no fire extension into the home. It seemed as if the brave homeowner saved her own with the use of a garden hose. The fire was investigated and found to have been caused by improperly discarded charcoal contents. Units picked up and returned to service in about one hour. Companies from 12, 8, 4, 3, and 2 handled.

STANDBY AT OLNEY HORSE FARM Sunday, August 3, 2008 - On Sunday, August 03, 2008 the Olney Farm had their annual horse show bringing 150+ competitors from different states across the east coast to compete in multiple events for horsemanship.  The Olney Farm asked members of  Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company to assist with a medical standby at the event due to the vast number of competitors.  Members from Company 8 House 1 handled the 12 hour long standby assisting in many minor occurences throughout the day. Organizers of the event thanked members of the JMVFC for their time, dedication, and swift response in taking care of the competitors and staff. Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company was honored with a donation of $400.00.

DWELLING ALMOST OFF DUE TO LIGHTNING STRIKE Saturday, August 2, 2008 - At 0533 hours Harford County Dispatch alerted for the dwelling fire at 1032 Emmerick Drive, with additional information of an electrical box on fire in the home.  Chief 8, Lloyd was first to arrive with smoke showing. Crews searched for the seat of the fire finding a charred electrical panel and fire extension in the wall. Engine companies knocked down the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher and moped up the hot spots with a line. All searches were found negative. The fire was determined to have been caused by a lightning strike. Units on scene: Chief 8, Engines 815, E814, E1211, E482, and Medic 893.

MUTUAL AID IN TO BALTIMORE COUNTY: TRUCK 831 Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - At 0623 hours Baltimore County Fire Department Dispatch requested mutual aid with a truck company for a house fire in the Kingsville area, calling for Company 8's Truck. Joppa Volunteers marked up in Truck 831 out of FORT HANSON within moments as the first due truck. Company 48, Kingsville made quick work of a working basement fire just prior to the arrival of Truck 831. The truck company assisted Baltimore County units with ventilation and overhaul. All searches were found negative. Truck 831 returned to service after about thirty minutes.

CAR VS. MOTORCYCLE Saturday, July 26, 2008 - On Friday at 1606 hours the rescue box was struck out at the intersection of Philadelphia Road and Bulls Lane in the 801 box. Upon arrival units found a motorcycle that had collided with an SUV and ran off the road pinning 2 people under the motorcycle in a ditch. Prior to fire department arrival bystanders had removed the motorcycle. Two priority 1 patients were flown to Shock Trauma via Trooper 1 and 6. Units handled: E815, E814, E812, 893, 891, Balt Co. 485.

TRUCK 831 SPECIAL CALL TO FALLSTON Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - More work was made of by the Joppa Magnolia Volunteers this morning in Company 13's area. At 0836 hours the building fire was struck out at the Fallston High School. Chief 13-2 was first to arrive advising of smoke conditions inside the building and the request for a second truck was made bringing Truck 831 and Chief 8-1 to the scene. Chief 8-1 was placed in charge of interior operations and the truck was tasked with roof operations opening up in several areas checking for fire extension. The cause of the fire was determined to have been started on the roof by workers. Crews operated for about 45 minutes before returning to service.

WORKING BUILDING FIRE AT THE OLD EDGEWOOD CARS FOR LESS Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - At 0214 hours Joppa Magnolia and surrounding volunteers were alerted for a reported building fire in the area of Route 152 and Route 40. Engine 814 w/6 was first to arrive at 676 Pulaski Hwy with a one story vacant garage fire showing sides bravo and delta. Engine 814 established a water source via 5" supply line to the west bound lanes of Pulaski Hwy while remaining crew members placed one 300' 2 1/2" blitz line and one 200' 1 3/4" in service. Pulaski Hwy Command, Captain Fannon called for the working fire and requested one additional truck company to the scene. All units operated from the exterior due to the deteriorating building conditions for about three hours before returning to service.

SECOND FIRE IN 24 HOURS Friday, July 18, 2008 - At 0148 hours companies turned out for a reported dwelling fire if the 409 box on Meredith Court. First to arrive on scene was Truck 431 with Chief 4 in charge advising of heavy smoke from the second floor upgrading to a bedroom fire. Crews from Company 4 stretched into the second floor knocking the fire while Engines 315 and 814 backed them up and checked for fire extension. All occupants were reported out and searches were negative. Mutual aid companies put up in roughly an hour leaving the home company with the Fire Marshal to investigate the cause.

MVC WITH RESCUE IN JOPPATOWNE Friday, July 18, 2008 - Harford County Dispatch toned out Joppa Magnolia Volunteers for a 10-50 w/ reports of people trapped in the intersection of Pulaski Highway and Joppa Farm Road at 1332 hours. IV 893 was first to arrive on scene confirming rescue shortly followed by Engine 811 and Truck 831. Crews began to work on the vehicles at hand calling for the Squad out of Baltimore County Station 48 located just minutes across the county line. Command made request for an additional IV unit and aviation. Crews extricated all patients in about twenty minuntes for transport to area trauma centers.

BUILDING FIRE AT THE SELF STORAGE Thursday, July 17, 2008 - At 1255 hours Joppa Magnolia and surrounding volunteers were alerted for smoke coming from several outside storage units within the compound of the Devon Self Storage in the 1300 block of Pulaski Highway. Engine 814 was first to arrive grabbing a plug laying out to the possible fire and by this time the fire had partially vented through the metal roll up doors. With no truck crew on scene at the time the crew of 814 split up stretching lines and opening up several roll up doors finding heavy fire conditions inside of two 10 x 15 units and minor extension into several other adjacent units. Companies from 12, 4 and 48 assisted with the salvage of undamaged property and overhaul of the burned out units while Truck 831 opened up the metal roof in several places. The MSFM office was called to the scene to investigate the suspicous fire. Units put up and returned to service in about two and a half hours.

EDGEWOOD MAN FATALLY SHOT IN JOPPA MAGNOLIA VFC Monday, July 14, 2008 - The Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company Hall located next to the main station was the center of a deadly attack on a local Edgewood man. An unnamed 22 year old male suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the upper torso early Monday morning just after midnight. The incident occurred as an alleged birthday party was ending on the upper level of the hall. Reports state the victim was exiting through the stair way when an unidentified man approached the victim firing the fatal gunshot. Members of the JMVFC were located upstairs working the event and unaware of the confrontation prior to hearing the sounds of gun fire below. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and JMVFC Emergency Medical Services immediately rushed to the scene in attempts to save the man’s life and secure the area. Investigators are looking for tips that may lead to an arrest, a $1,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest.

MUTUAL AID INTO ABINGDON FOR A TOWNHOUSE FIRE Friday, July 11, 2008 - Just as companies had put up from the rescue on Mountain Road and returned to service, Harford County Dispatch struck the 412 box  at 1546 hours for a basement fire in the 100 block of Sprucewood Court in Laurel Woods bringing units from Companies 4, 3, 8, 12, and 13. Engine 315 was first to arrive reporting of smoke showing from a two story MOG which quickly was upgraded to a working basement fire with extension to the first floor. All hands were called to put a knock on the fire preventing further extension, search and rescue, and much needed ventilation. Engine 815 assisted with fire attack stretching the second attack line while Engine 814 opened up from the rear completing VES task. All companies worked well together placing this stubborn fire under control.

ANOTHER CUT JOB ON MOUNTAIN ROAD Friday, July 11, 2008 - Friday afternoon at 1451 hours Company 8 was alerted for a two car mvc w/ possible entrapment. Truck 831 arrived to confirm one female trapped and began stabilization, extrication, and patient care. Squad 483 from Baltimore County was special called to scene to assist as well as Engines 814, 815, and medic 893. Several transports made to area hospitals with one transport to 634 trauma center via Trooper 1.

OVERTURNED ON THE INTERSTATE Monday, June 23, 2008 - On Monday at 1621 hours the rescue box was alerted for an overturned vehicle with people trapped on I-95 at the exit to Bel Air calling for an engine and medic out of Company 8. Engine 815 was the first piece to arrive shortly followed by Truck 831 which was special called by Chief 8-1. Joppa Magnolia units began extrication on the overturned vehicle as EMS treated the one trapped inside. Units from Abingdon assisted with patient care, stabilization, and extrication along with MSP Trooper 1 who made the transport to Johns Hopkins Trauma Center. Units remained on scene for about 45 minutes.