House Fire in Cearfoss

Another day, another storm, another structure struck by lightning.  This time, the 13 Box was sounded for the house fire in Cearfoss on Gregory Court.  The Engine and Truck were alerted out of 27, with Maugansville and Greencastle.  Engine 27-1 and Truck 27 responded with ten under the leadership of Assistant Chief Latimer.  Crews arrived on scene and found Company 13 operating on a Working House Fire with fire rolling through the roof.  27 assisted with fire attack and extensive salvage and overhaul operations.  Engine 27-1 participated in the water supply as well.  Crews operated on scene for over three hours before returning to the Meadow.

While 27-1 and the Truck operated on the fire, Station 27 was staffed with multiple personnel led by Deputy Chief Hopkins - making a transfer unnecessary.  This crew handled three calls (EMS, Wires, and CO) while the other crews operated on the fire.

HFD Apartment Building Fire

A severe thunderstorm was rolling through the area, sending the county into complete madness - as multiple calls were being processed.  During this time, the HFD Box was sounded at 2126 hours for Lynnhaven Drive for a reported Apartment Building Fire.  The Engine and Truck from 27 were due on the initial box.  HFD Captain 3-2 (Pile) arrived on scene and reported a working fire - requesting the remaining city units, air and rehab units, and a CRS medic unit.  Truck 27 with six under the direction of Sergeant O'Connell and Rescue-Engine 27-2 with four responded initially, with Engine 27-1 following not far behind with five additional.  Prior to 27's arrival, fire had blown through the roof and was shooting well into the sky.  Truck 27 set up on the A/B corner beside HFD Truck 1, and prepared to pipe.  Rescue-Engine 27-2 layed a second supply line from HFD Engine 1 on Security Road to supply the truck.  Truck 27 and Truck 1 piped for a period of time, knocking down a bulk of the fire.  After Pipe operations were completed, 27 and HFD crews went interior for extensive salvage and overhaul operations.  As the incident progressed, the foam attack line off of the Rescue-Engine was deployed and utilized by Truck 1 to foam from above.  Crews operated on scene and cleared at 0130 hours.

First-Due House Fire

• At 0309 hours, FRC struck Box 27-3 for the house fire on Leitersburg Pike.  The Engine and Truck from 27 were alerted, along with HFD Engine and Utility 3, Company 13 from Maugansville, and CRS Rescue Squad 75.  Assistant Chief Latimer responded as the duty, and had visible fire from the Square of Paramount.  The Working Fire Assignment was struck bringing Company 9 from Leitersburg, the Air Unit, Rehab Unit, and a CRS Medic Unit.  AC Latimer arrived and established Leitersburg Pike Command, with heavy fire showing from multiple windows on the second floor from both the A and B sides.  Rescue-Engine 27-2 layed out 1300 feet of supply line to a hydrant at Courtland Drive.  Truck 27 operated as a quint, with multiple attack lines off and the aerial in the sky.  Squad 75 established RIT and other personnel assisted with vertical vent, attack, salvage, overhaul, and utility control.  HFD Truck 1 was started to ladder the roof on the side to assist with overhaul.  Units cleared the scene prior to 0630 hours.

Mutual-Aid Brush Fire

Special Unit 27 was alerted for Milnor Road in Antrim Township just prior to 1400 hours for the brush fire.  The Unit and Chief Eckstine responded right after dispatch with five personnel.  The crew operated the booster-line, forestry lines, and the ground sweeps in their effort to extinguish the fire.  The Unit operated on scene for a little over an hour and then returned to the Meadow.

Mutual-Aid Brush and House

Shortly after 1100 hours, Special Unit 27 was alerted for the Brush Fire on Leitersburg Road in Antrim Township.  The Unit responded immediately with four under the direction of Deputy Chief Hopkins.  The crew arrived to find several acres of field on fire, with multiple exposures to protect.  The Engine Company was then alerted for further assistance on the call and responded immediately with four additional person in Engine 27-1.  The Special Unit operated on scene for over two hours, utilizing the booster-line, forestry line, ground sweeps, and the pro pack.  The Engine staged and then transferred to Greencastle for about an hour.

Upon clearing the transfer to Greencastle, Engine 27-1 was alerted to transfer to Williamsport Company 2 - who were operating on a house fire on the west-side of town.  Right after acknowledging the transfer, 27-1 was then alerted to respond to the scene on Fenton Avenue.  The crew assisted with salvage and overhaul operations, clearing the scene in about an hour.

First-Due House Fire

At 0702 hours, FRC struck Box 27-3 for the house fire on Chartridge Drive, bringing the Engine and Truck from 27, HFD Engine and Utility 3, Engine Company 13, and Rescue Squad 75.  Lieutenant Byard responded as the duty.  Engine 3 arrived on first and layed a supply line into the scene, arriving to find a two-story duplex with heavy smoke showing.  Engine 3 deployed an attack line to Side C of the structure and found a deck off of the rear of the house on fire, with extension into the second floor.  LT. Byard arrived on scene and established Chartridge command; requesting the Working Fire Assignment (Engine from Leitersburg, Air Unit, Rehab Unit, CRS Medic Unit).  Rescue-Engine 27-2 arrived on scene and picked-up Engine 3's line, with the crew deploying a second attack line into the house.  They found a bedroom off on the second floor and extinguished.  Truck 27 arrived on scene and began laddering the structure.  RIT was established and a second engine from Maugansville and an engine from Funkstown were alerted to assist with personnel.  Personnel worked for slightly over 2 hours before the last unit cleared the scene.  The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office investigated the incident, and the American Red Cross assisted with the family that was displaced.

2-Alarmer in Greencastle

Right after midnight, Truck 27 was alerted on the 3-04 Box for the house fire in Greencastle.  The Truck responded quickly with six under the leadership of Chief Eckstine.  Shortly after the departure of the Truck, the Engine Company was alerted on the second-alarm assignment.  Engine 27-1 responded shortly after with four to assist.  Crews worked together alongside Maugansville and multiple Franklin County Companies.  27 crews opened the roof of an exposure and operated the ladder pipe off of Truck 27 for a time.  Crews assisted with knockdown and overhaul, clearing shortly prior to 0400 hours.

Busy Day in the Meadow

The crews from 27 started the morning out around 0430 hrs getting ready for our annual "Mile Long Yard Sale",  with a medic local being dispatched shortly thereafter in our first due.  Crews continued to work the yard sale all day, making a sizeable profit of about $5000.   After cleaning up from our fund raiser, the Rescue Engine, Truck, and Special Unit went to Fountain Head Country Club to enjoy some fireworks.   Around 2145 hrs during the fireworks, Engine 271, Truck Company 27, and the Chief responded to Franklin County for a house fire in the 3-13 box.  Truck 27 arrived the same time as Greencastle's Engine 3-1 to find lightning had struck the house.  Upon further investigation, the crews determined there wasn't much of a hazard the the men from north of the Mason Dixon Line couldn't handle, so Greencastle command held Co. 3 only and returned the rest of the assignment.  While units were responding to Pa, Rescue Engine 272 was dispatched for a building fire at the Hagerstown Ice and Sports Complex at 800 Security Rd.  Hagerstown City's 2nd Battalion Fire Chief arrived to find a steam scare, and returned the box assignment.  The rest of the evening was uneventful.