Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units from the 3rd and 4th battalions were alerted to the house fire on Paul Drive in Rockville towards the tail end of the evening rush hour on Friday. First arriving units reported the working fire with fire showing from the 2nd floor. The working fire dispatch was sounded, followed quickly by the RIT alert/alarm.
Firefighters from Rockville companies 3, 23 and 33; Kensington Company 5; and 25; and Rescue 2 (Wheaton) battled the fire. Firefighters rescued a puppy from the house and the dog was quickly returned to its owner, shaken but unharmed.
The Metro DC region was drenched by heavy rains resulting in flash flooding and many submerged vehicles requiring water rescue assignments especially on the north side of the beltway. At approximately 1200 hours, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units were alerted for a water rescue at Beach Drive and Connecticut Avenue. Paramedic Engine 707 arrived to find one car submerged in high water on Beach Drive with possible trapped occupants.
A full water rescue assignment brought Strike Team 730, one of three MCFRS water rescue strike teams. Strike Team 730 is made up of firefighters and rescue techs from the Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department & River Rescue Team. The team includes a squad that tows inflatable rescue boats. Rescue Squad 741 was the special service on scene and provided additional rescue support for the strike team. Rescuers removed three occupants from the vehicle safely using the rescue boat and brought them back to awaiting EMS medics from the Wheaton Rescue Squad.
All occupants were safely removed and uninjured. Battalion Chief 702 had command. The incident was cleared within approx. 45 min. While working this incident, units from Strike Team 30 responded to another nearby water rescue on Beach Drive.
