| On February
26, 2004 at 1514 hours units from Waldorf were alerted for a possible single-family
house fire on Elizabeth Drive. As units were approaching the scene, a large
column of black smoke could be seen in the sky.
Chief 3A and Engine 33 arrived on the scene
to find a 2-story residence with heavy fire conditions visible from the
front door and several windows on sides 2 and 3.
Engine 33's crew made an aggressive interior
attack with a 1¾" preconnect line. Firefighters were hampered by
a propane tank in the rear of the residence that was providing additional
fuel to the fire.
The crew knocked the bulk of the fire down
on the 1st floor and was advancing to the 2nd floor when the water supply
ran out. This residence was located in a non-hydrant area and firefighters
were forced to evacuate the structure until the water supply could be established.
Several additional tankers were special
requested to the scene to assist with a water shuttle operation.
Once the water supply operation was in
place, firefighters initiated an exterior attack on the fire utilizing
a 2-1/2" attack line and 2-1¾" preconnect lines.
After the bulk of the fire was extinguished,
crews re-entered the structure and extinguished the remaining amounts of
fire. The residence was a total loss and was estimated at approximately
$350,000.
No firefighters were injured battling the
blaze, however one welder who was working at the residence was treated
for smoke inhalation and signed a release on scene.
The Maryland State Fire Marshals Office
investigated the fire and determined a light bulb exploded in a crawlspace
causing the blaze.
Waldorf Responding Units: Engine
33, Truck 3, Tanker 12 (Special Request), Ambulance 37, Safety 3, and Chief
3A.
Mutual Aid Units: Hughesville Engine
23 and Tanker 2, Baden Engine 362 and Tanker 36, La Plata Truck 1, and
Brandywine Squad 40.
Special Request for
Water Supply:
Mechanicsville Engine 23, Benedict Engine
53, and La Plata Tanker 1. |
