One barn + One Trailer + 22 Acres + 40 mph winds=Five County-wide Brush Fire |
| By Assistant Chief Jonathan Riffe | |
| March 10, 2006 | |
| On Thursday March 10, 2006, shortly after clearing a reported Building Fire with Engine 62 and Squad 6, the Huntingtown Volunteers were alerted at 1330 hours, 2nd due to Barstow Road for the brush fire. Due to the weather conditions, DNR labeled it is a Class "3" day, which brings 3 companies to each reported incident. Brush 6 (Morrison, D) and Jeep 6 (Amick) quickly headed south along with units from Company 2 (Prince Frederic) and Company 83 (Benedict). Units arrived on location reporting a barn fully-involved. The assignment was then upgraded bringing three more units from Huntingtown and several mutual aid units. Engine 62 (Chief 6A, Riffe), Squad 6 (Morris) and Tanker 6 (Grierson, M) were alerted to the call with Chief 6 (Osbourn) and Chief 6B (Hayes) soon to follow. Engine 62 arrived on location, picking up Engine 21's line and established the draft site for units on the fireground. Units from Company 2 quickly began work on the barn and the heaping pile of trash which covered an acre. The crew from Engine 62 stretched their line to the trailer and made quick work of that fire. With the majority of the structural firefighting complete, units made their way into the woods where they found fire reaching flame lengths of approximately 30 feet and covering several feet per minute threatening several houses. Several different sectors were established along with additional mutual aid units from Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, Saint Mary's and Anne Arundel brought to the call. Helicopters flew over the entire incident keeping a close eye on the fire spread. At the end, 22 acres were destroyed. Units picked up after 1900 hours while Forestry remained on the scene. Command: Chief 2 (Ficke)
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