Norbeck Road House Fire

On Saturday, July 2 at 7:14 a.m. MCFRS units were dispatched to the 2100 block of Norbeck Road for the report of a house fire with children possibly trapped. Units arrived on scene to find a two-story single family home with heavy fire evident throughout first floor.

Firefighters quickly went to work to bring the fire under control and search for any children who were reported trapped. The initial search did not result in anyone being found.

The initial 911 call was received from a passer-by who indicated she had been driving northbound on Norbeck Road when she noticed a heavy dark colored column of smoke. As she got closer, she noticed a woman standing in the road and stopped to assist. The individual stated to the passer-by that “the kids are in the kitchen” at which point the Good Samaritan called 911 and relayed this information. It was later learned that the occupant of the home was referring to a doll collection as her “kids.”

Fire Investigators have listed this fire as accidental, the result of unattended cooking.

An equivalent of two-alarms worth of apparatus plus an EMS Task Force (due to initial report of persons trapped) resulted in roughly 85-100 fire and rescue personnel, along with approximately 40 fire and rescue units, on scene at various points.

Damages were estimated at $400,000.00 to the structure and $150,000.00 to the contents of the home. There were no reported injuries to civilian or fire and rescue personnel. One adult female has been displaced as a result of the fire.

Overcoming Challenges - HVAC Fire S.Glen Road

The below video and photos are from an incident earlier this morning in the 10700 block of S. Glen Rd. MCFRS units arrived on the scene to find a fire involving a propane-fed HVAC unit free-burning on the roof.

Challenges were immediate as firefighters encountered buried fire hydrants and access issues. Undeterred, firefighters advanced hose lines and ladders thru the snow to attack the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished.

MCFRS crews have had to overcome many weather related challenges on S Glen Rd ie unplowed driveway, hydrants buried pic.twitter.com/cGlSKeJPuS

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 26, 2016

E701 Responding To Fire Alarm

As part of the virtual ride-a-long today, here is a view from inside E701 responding to a fire alarm sounding in a building. You can follow todays ride-a-long via Twitter @MCFRSchat or hashtag #mcfrs.

See yesterday's post on how you can follow along via text.

 

Radio Communication Drill

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Units in the lower part of the 1st Battalion got in a little radio communications drill yesterday (3/2/15) afternoon at the Forest Glen Metro Station. Fire Stations 1, 2, and 19 along with Truck 716, Battalion Chief (BC) 702, and BC701 ran three exercises at the underground Metro station simulating a failure of the normal radio communications system - thus having to resort to a "radio-relay" system using portable radios. The Forest Glen Station is located in Fire Station 19's (Montgomery Hills) response district and is one of the deepest stations in the United States.

Today's radio relay drill sent companies on a "scavenger hunt" for information in the station that had to be relayed via radio back to the command post located in the Metro Station's parking lot. While some might find this training not as exciting as stretching hose lines or cutting up cars - it is very important training because the radio relay could be the last line of communications in a major incident in the Metro system.

Many thanks to Captain Blinkhorn (Fire Station 1-A Shift) for coordinating the event. Many thanks also to WMATA for providing an emergency management representative on site to help out as well.

What Slows Down Emergency Responders When Every Second Counts

This from NBC Nightly News that we were a part of.  Part Two is below.

House Fire In Silver Spring

Last evening at approximately 1700 hours, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue responded to the 10800 block of Keller Street in Silver Spring for the house fire. Engine 718 arrived on scene to find a 2 story cape cod style home with heavy fire showing from the front of the house.

One adult occupant of the home, who was in the basement at the time, was alerted to the fire by a working smoke alarm and safely exited the home.

Firefighters initiated an interior attack on the fire which had already extended to the second floor. While actively engaged in fire fighting on the first and second floor, Command requested an evacuation of the building due to deteriorating conditions. After regrouping, firefighters reentered the building and extinguished the fire.

A total of approximately 75 firefighters responded to the scene. Two occupants of the home were displaced and not injured while four cats are missing. Damage estimates of $450K to the structure and $200K to contents.  Origin of the fire was the first floor kitchen area with the cause listed as undetermined, most likely accidental.

Photo via @IAFFLocal1664

Photo via D/C Tom Jones KVFD

Photo via @mcfrsPio

 

Photo by MFF Sean Hall

Photo via @mcfrsPio

Photo via @mcfrsPio