Tones dropped for Washington County (MD) Box 11-2 over the Frederick County dispatch on Sunday afternoon alerting Company 5 (Brunswick) & 20 (Jefferson) for mutual aid to the house fire in Knoxville. Washington County responded with units from Company 1 (Sharpsburg), Company 6 & 8 (Boonsboro), and Company 11 (Potomac Valley). Special service units included Washington County Rehab and Air, and Rescue Squad 20 (Special Ops). Mutual aid units from Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and Loudoun County (Engine 616, Tanker 623, BC 603) responded.
The tanker task force companies setup water supply while Truck 5 ventilated the building. Both squads (RS20 Jefferson, and RS20 Special Ops) provided RIT. Fire was knocked quickly and the incident was placed under control within 30 min. Firefighters remained on the scene for 2 hours.
A Rentz Drive home was heavily damaged by a mid-day fire Saturday, 28-December. At 14:18, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of smoke coming from the attic of a home at 355 Rentz Drive near the rural Hudson Mill Community. Engine 1 arrived six minutes later to find flames across the roof of the one story residential dwelling. Firefighters used a deck gun to knock down the heavy flames, then deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire. The roof collapsed shortly after fire units arrived. Crews had the fire under control in less than 30 minutes, but were on the scene for 2-1/2 hours. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle. Engine 26 setup drafting operations at a dry hydrant in a pond approximately one mile from the scene.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
All of the occupants were able to safely exit the building when they discovered the fire. Most of the fire damage was isolated to the attic and roof, but the living area suffered water damage and drop down debris from the attic. Many personal items were salvageable, but the home suffered substantial damage. The origin of the fire appears to have been electrical in nature. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 8, Tender 15, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
While units were still on the scene of a structure fire on Poplar Street, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a second structure fire one block away at 301 Edgewood Street. Firefighters at the Poplar Street incident were still performing overhaul and breaking down lines when this fire was dispatched.
Tender 26 was able to leave the Poplar Street incident and drive around the corner while additional units were also responding. Tender 26 found a single-story, block residence fully involved. The 3000-gallon E-One tender is equipped for firefighting operations. Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines to combat the blaze and had the bulk of the fire knocked down within 15 minutes, but were on the scene for two hours.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Tender 19 supplied water to Tender 26. Three engines responded, but only needed to standby and supply hand tools. The home was vacant and did not have power connected. Due to the close proximity to the other fire and the suspicious nature of the origin, the Sheriff’s Office and State Police (SLED) Arson Unit were contacted to assist with the investigation. SLED sent two agents to the scene. The building remained standing, but suffered heavy damage.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 2 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander. Engine 1, Engine 5, Engine 13, Medic 9 and Medic 13 were relocated during the incident.
A Poplar Street home was destroyed in an early morning fire Friday 27-December. At 02:55, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the house with flames coming out of the windows. Engine 19 arrived minutes later to find the single-story wood-frame residential dwelling fully-involved, with flames 40 feet in the air. An unattached, two-story garage behind the home was threatened. Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines and one 2-1/2 handline to combat the fire. Engine 19 attempted to use a deck gun, but was not effective reaching the building due to trees in the yard. A second alarm was issued 20 minutes into the incident for additional personnel and tenders.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
The roof over the center of the structure collapsed shortly after arrival. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. The home was a rental property and was not occupied, however it did have power connected. The building was heavily damaged and almost completely destroyed. The separate garage was not damaged.
While crews were finishing overhaul operations, a second, well-involved structure fire one block from this residence was reported. Tender 26 was able to be freed from this scene, responded to the other fire and began firefighting efforts. Due to the close proximity and the suspicious nature of the fires, the Sheriff’s Office and State Police (SLED) Arson Unit were contacted to assist with the investigation.
Engine 19, Engine 24, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.
A Futrell Lane home was heavily damaged in a mid-afternoon fire Wednesday 20-November. At 14:29, neighbors notified 9-1-1 that they could see smoke and flames coming from a single-wide mobile home and the yard was on fire. Colleton County (SC) Engine 5 arrived minutes later to find the mobile home 50% involved. The roof and floor in half of the structure had already collapsed. Bystanders advised they thought a woman who lived there was still inside the residence.
Firefighters deployed multiple handlines and entered the building through a rear door. A quick search of the remaining smoke filled building did not reveal any occupants. Crews stopped the spread of the fire saving half of the structure, but most items inside were heavily damaged by heat, smoke and water. Firefighters spent approximately 1-1/2 hours overhauling the building, while searching the debris for any victims. The resident eventually showed up about two hours into the incident. She had not been at home when the fire occurred.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Sheriff’s deputies found many items indicating illicit activity may have been carried on in the home. Officials from the DEA responded to the scene and were investigating through the night.
Engine 5, Engine 9, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 27, Tender 32, Medic 9, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 111, Car 118 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.
Newport Township FPD firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire Wednesday morning on N. Mill Creek Road in Wadsworth, IL. The house was located at the end of a long driveway and was not visible from the wooded street.
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Arriving units were unable to see the fire in the rear of the structure until they got all the way to the house. Since the area is without hydrants, the alarm was upgraded immediately to a Box Alarm, then to a 2nd Alarm shortly thereafter. One engine and a 75′ quint made it up the driveway and a relay operation was initiated from the street. Three portable tanks were used on the road as two engines supplied 5″ lines to the quint and the engine in the driveway.
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
As the fire overhead grew, companies had to pull out and resort to a defensive operation. Several hand lines and an aerial pipe were put into operation. Due to the water needs and the route tenders had to take to refill and return, the alarm was upgraded to a 4th Alarm for additional tenders.
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Seventeen Illinois departments responded to the fire along with eight departments from Wisconsin. There were a total of 16 water tenders, two aerials, two squads, and five engines.
