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Engine 44 On Park Hall Working House Fire
By Firefighter David Morris
February 9, 2010
At 0241 on 2/9, firefighters from Companies 3, 9, 6 and Water Supply 5 were alerted to the 18558 block of Point Lookout Road for the report of a working house fire. Units from Company 3 arrived on the scene and advised Fireboard of a confirmed working residential fire. Chief 3 established command at this time and requested three additional tankers to the scene.
At 0255, Companies 4, 1 and 7 were alerted to the scene. Engine 44 (Chief 4A Raley) responded shortly after the dispatch with five personnel. Engine 44 arrived behind Engine 63 and began supplying Engine 91 who was, in turn, supplying Engine 32. Command advised Engine 44 to fall in line with tanker shuttles and send the crew to the manpower pool. Water Supply 5 proceeded to Bradley Blvd where Water Supply 3 had set up a water supply at a source hydrant.
Due to the heavy fire conditions already encountered, the decision was made to use a ladder pipe and not attempt interior operations until fire through the roof was knocked down. Command then requested three additional tankers to the scene to assist with supplying the ladder pipe. Engine 44's crew assisted laying line in for Tower 9 to set up ladder pipe operations. Once the line to Tower 9 was established, Engine 44's crew returned to the manpower pool, where Chief 3 designated them RIT once interior operations were restarted.
After an aggressive knock by the ladder pipe, the decision was made to begin interior operations on the bulk of the fire. Crews were rotated in and out to begin knocking the fire down. With assistance from the bucket crew in Tower 9, an intense interior attack was started. Due to heavy fire in the ceiling, attic area and walls, an extensive attack was required. At this time, Chief 4A completed a size up on side C and advised that fire was pushing out of the gable end.
Shortly thereafter, Engine 44's crew was reassigned from RIT to relieve the truck company crew on the inside. Engine 44's crew assisted with pulling ceilings and hose line operations. At this time, the fire was placed under control at 0517, and Chief 3 held all units on scene. After an extended overhaul, the crew from Engine 44 assisted with racking up hose and then went in service around 0815. This fire required efforts from every fire department in the county, plus an additional tanker from Solomons in Calvert County. The attic was filled with reading material which fueled the fire and made attack on the fire very hard. Despite this, firefighters completed their attack in the snow and ice, and no lines froze up. A thanks is extended to John Douglass for the use of his pictures.
