This goes out to Engine 106's crew on 9/26/16 @ 2 am (responding to a call off of Arlington County). I did not see a Yelp listing for Arlington's fire department.
My girlfriend and I recently moved to a new apartment and the wooden slat that the previous tenant used to lock the sliding glass door that led to a third story balcony fell behind us, stranding us on our balcony. After trying to call neighbors and locksmiths with no affordable options (lock smith for a condominium with a communal locked front door + personal locked door being $295-$400, and neighbors not answering) I called the non-emergency number for Arlington county's police/fire. The responder told me that "you only call this number as your last resort" and that he was sending the fire department, who I assumed would break the lob door and apartment door by force. I tried to talk him out of it to no avail.
Thankfully, they Instead took us down from the balcony with the firetruck's bucket and allowed us to try a few neighbors' codes to buzz us in and eventually got past the first door. Our apartment door was opened gracefully with minimal damage.
Every one of them was understanding and courteous. "This is what we do". Thank you so much for helping us out in this potentially costly and/or dangerous ( I was considering trying to climb down from the third story balcony that offers no footing) minor emergency.
I could not be more impressed with the professionalism and care these brave men provided us.
If Alexandria's fire department sees this I plead you will forward it to the firefighters of Arlington county.
Best wishes,
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