Heavy Storms bring 2 Back-to-Back 1st due Boxes

On Sunday July 2, 2006, the Huntingtown area was rocked by a storm that only lasted for approximately 30 minutes but led to (2) 1st due boxes.

The first call came at 1938 hours, for a House struck by lightning at 530 Ponds Wood alerting Huntingtown VFD and mutual aid companies. Chief 6 (Osbourn), Engine 61 (Chief 6B, Hayes), Engine 62 (Chief 6A, Riffe), Squad 6 (Lt Thrasher), Tanker 6 (Hayward) and Ambulance 68 (Smith) arrived on location reporting nothing evident. Chief 6 established Command as units investigated the residence. Lightning struck a nearby fence causing a power surge to the residence which led to several damaged electrical outlets. The assignment was quickly scaled back to Company 6 units only and the Box was placed available at 2015 hours.

Just as units had completed cleaning the apparatus from the above run, the next First Due box came in. At 2106 hours, Box 601 was struck at 3411 Soper Road for the House struck by lightning. Chief 6A (Riffe) and Safety Officer 6 (Bowen) arrived first reporting a two-story residence with nothing evident. Soon to follow, Engine 61 (Chief 6B; Hayes), Engine 62 (Lt Montgomery), Squad 6 (Wells, M), Tanker 6 (Hayward), and Ambulance 68 (Cooper) arrived on location. Chief 6A established Command as units began to investigate. Crews found that a nearby lightning strike tripped several circuits and caused several outlets to be destroyed. The assignment was held to Company 6 units only before the box was placed in service at 2145 hours.