Fair Oaks volunteers remember Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

Wednesday, August 30 2006 @ 03:30 EDT

Contributed by: Administrator

Thor, a search dog from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, that helped in the search recovery efforts after the Pentagon terrorist attack, stands at attention followng the committal service for all 184 victims although there was a special emphasis on the five families who did not receive any recovered remains. (Photo by Dayna Smith/twp) FAIRFAX, VA -- With the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks less than a month away, several volunteers of the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company (FOVFR) will be reflecting on what that day meant to them as many of them responded to the attack on the Pentagon.

"The impact on the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was considerable," said FOVFR member, Blair Miller. He said he’d never forget how members of the company stepped up during a time of national crisis. "Their professionalism and dedication was amazing to witness."

The following are some of the ways FOVFR members responded when the Pentagon was attacked:

Jeff Wooden was in the Pentagon that day and used his EMT skills to help evacuate the building.

Dominic Depaolis was in the first wave of responders. He was on duty at the Ronald Reagan National Airport as a Safety Officer. He was at the Pentagon scene in less than 10 minutes. He worked the incident for 18 hours before being relieved.

Paul Bertovich and Steve Willey were at the Pentagon that day as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency team. They remained on site for several days.

Blair Miller and George McMahon were called up along with their cadaver search dogs, Thor and Smokey (respectively), two days after the incident. Pulling 12-hour shifts, Blair and George worked with the dogs to find the remains of those killed. They were later featured in the book "Dog Heroes of September 11th."

Jennifer Coulter and Mark Servello ferried supplies to the scene Sept. 12.

Nearly every member of the company pulled many 12-hour shifts every day for two weeks after that day, backfilling Arlington and Fairfax firehouses whose apparatus were being used at the Pentagon. "We had a lot of career firefighters call up, too, and ask, "What can I do to help," said FOVFR chief, Jonathan Wood. "The stories go on and on."

Both Mr. Miller and Mr. Wood recollected that everyone wanted to do everything they could to help the situation.

"On September 11, 2001, 341 FDNY firefighters were killed, from Fire Chiefs of the department to probationary firefighters with less than a month on the job," said Mr. Miller. "It is a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable each of us in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is to the dangerous job we undertake. It doesn’t matter whether you are a career or volunteer [firefighter]; we all have great respect for the ultimate sacrifice these courageous firefighters made that day."

the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company
http://www.fovfr.org/article.php/20060829163915707