Fire departments from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia responded to the 3-alarm fire that swept through multiple buildings and businesses on High St. in historic Harpers Ferry on Thursday.
Firefighters received the tones around 3 a.m. on Thursday morning and arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the historic buildings. Fire apparatus from multiple departments and counties including Loudoun, Frederick, Washington, and Jefferson crowded the narrow High St, and along the back side of the buildings on Potomac St.
Firefighters were still attacking fire hidden in the roof areas by 8 a.m. and worked throughout the day to knock down hot spots and perform overhaul. Relief and 3rd alarm units started to be released around 12 noon. With temps in the 80s, firefighters rehabbed and kept hydrated thanks to donations of water and coffee from the local community.
My friend Kelly Lowery, a lieutenant at the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company in Jefferson, MD submitted photos from the early hours of the fire attack. I arrived about 9 a.m. to get hot spot and overhaul work.
Frederick and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded to the townhouse fire in Brunswick, MD, Box 5-15, at approx. 1330 hours on July 13, 2014. Firefighters were met with heavy smoke and fire showing from a row of townhouses. Heavy fire covered the back of the houses on the charlie side of the operation. Fire commanders quickly escalated to a second alarm assignment bringing units from Loudoun, Montgomery, and Jefferson County, WV. Carroll Manor Quint 14 and Brunswick Truck 5 established master streams while firefighters made an aggressive interior attack to perform search and rescue. Luckily no people were found in the residence, however firefighters did locate multiple pets that succumbed to the smoke and fumes.
A 3rd alarm was struck about 30 minutes into the incident bringing more units from surrounding counties as well as the Loudoun County Medical Ambulance Bus to provide rehab and support. The canteen unit from Independent Company 1 was on the scene to provide water, hydration drinks, and other refreshments. Firefighters also battled the 90 degree heat and one firefighter was taken to hospital suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. No other injuries were reported.
I’d like to thank my friend Kelly Lowery, Lieutenant at Jefferson Company 20, for submitting the pre-arrival photos, one showing heavy fire on charlie side.
Here is the full rundown of units responding (thanks to Frederick Scanner on FB):
(BOX 5-15) (BRUNSWICK)
TOWNHOUSE FIRE / FIRE VISIBLE / 1000 BLK ORNDORFF CT disp: E51,E201,LCE612,E281,LCE616,A199,RS20,TR5,Q14,T5,ET204,LCT612,BAT900,SFT900,EMS900
2ND ALARM / FIRE / ORNDORFF CT Disp: JCRE1,E72,E122,LCE610,WCE112,A198,RS3,TR42,TWR1,BAT900,SFT900
3RD ALARM / FIRE / ORNDORFF CT Disp: E31,RE11,E22,E311,E501,LCA616,RS2,LCTWR602,WCTR6 (1)
Best-
Trevor James
Kelly Lowery photo
Kelly Lowery photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Trevor James photo
Many more photos from this incident can be viewed on my Flickr account here:
