MARYLAND Jan./Feb. 2024
Volume 2, No. 6
Story on page 12. - Fire News photo by Wayne Barrall
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Staff at Fire News
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 3
In this issue... Row House Fire in BC Baltimore City firefighters battled a fire in a row house.
See story on page 4
Historical Structure Burns A massive fire burned through the abandoned Uplands Mansion. See story on page 8
Exterior Ops for Abandoned Structure Fire Baltimore City fire companies encountered heavy fire in the rear of a two-story row frame.
See story on page 10
Baltimore City Apartment Fire Mutual aid units were alerted for a reported apartment fire.
Serving Fire & EMS Heroes Since 1973 FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher/CEO TIM EDWARDS, Chief Operating Officer GARY P. JOYCE, Editor MYLES QUINN, Long Island Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production GREG JONES, Art Director CLIFF CHIESA, Production Manager BARBARA CONNOLLY, Vice President National Sales SUZANNE BANCROFT, Business Development Manager BRYAN LOPEZ, Editorial Assistant LYNN SEDLER, Graphic Artist DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor Emeritus COPYRIGHT 2024, THE FIRE NEWS INC., LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, S. Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wildwood, NJ Proud Member Of:
See story on page 17
Working Fire on Brooks Lane Baltimore City firefighters battled a working fire. See story on page 20
Flames Out the Windows on Arrival Baltimore City firefighters battled a raging fire in a row home. See story on page 25
PLUS: Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 10 Special Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 24
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Page 4, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Row House Fire in BC
Baltimore City firefighters battled a fire in a row house on Chauncey Avenue on the morning of October 18, 2023. - Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos
Page 6, Fire News, January/February 2024
Hagerstown On Call
Hagerstown Truck 4 staged during a recent working building fire. - Fire News photo by Shane Shifflett
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Kitchen Fire on Marshall Avenue
On November 22, 2023, at 1909, Kanawha Counties Stations 4 Rand Volunteer Fire Department and Station 3 Malden Volunteer Fire Department were alerted for a house fire in area 4 at Marshall Avenue. Units arrived to find a fire in a kitchen oven. Quick work by crews extinguished the fire and vented smoke out of the house. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
Page 8, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Fast Stop in Nitro
Quick work by responding units kept the damage to minimum at an evening attic fire on Okey Avenue in Nitro. No injuries were reported. - Photos courtesy of Nitro FD
Historical Structure Burns A massive fire burned through the abandoned Uplands Mansion off Old Frederick Road in west Baltimore on October 30, 2023. The fire was elevated to three alarms and nearly 100 Baltimore City firefighters battled the blaze. Officials said a strong wind fueled the fire. The Uplands Mansion was the summer home for Baltimore socialite Mary Frick Garrett Jacobs in the early to mid 1900s. From 1952-86, it was the Uplands Home for Church Women. In the 1990s, it became the New Psalmist Baptist Church. The church building was later demolished, and the home has sat vacant ever since. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 9
Hurricane Structure Fire
Teays Valley Fire/EMS, Hurricane Fire and Rescue, Culloden Volunteer Fire Department, Winfield Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam EMS, and Putnam County Emergency Management, responded to a structure fire behind L&R BBQ in Hurricane. No
injuries were reported. Thanks to Eleanor Volunteer Fire Department for moving up to watch over Station 700. - Photos courtesy of Teays Valley Fire & EMS
Page 10, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Exterior Ops for Abandoned Structure Fire
Baltimore City fire companies encountered heavy fire in the rear of a two-story row frame on Bloomingdale Road early on October 30, 2023. The structure was found to be vacant and exterior operations were conducted to extinguish the blaze. - Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos
Page 12, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Cover Story
SU LAX Coach’s Home Burns Firefighters from Salisbury, Hebron, Delmar, Fruitland and Allen responded to a house fire on Russell Avenue in Salisbury on October 8, 2023. Fire crews battled the fire for about an hour before bringing it under control. The home was a total loss. Three pets perished in the fire. Salisbury University confirmed that the home belonged to Jim Berkman, head coach of the Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team. - Fire News photos by Wayne Barrall
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 17
Baltimore City Apartment Fire
On October 27, 2023, while the Baltimore City Fire Department held a Line of Duty Death funeral for Firefighter/EMT Rodney Pitts III of Engine Company 29 who died following a two-alarm dwelling fire on October 19, fire apparatus from departments across the state of Maryland filled in at BCFD firehouses. Shortly after 1430, mutual aid units were alerted for a reported apartment fire on Fordleigh Road at the Fordleigh Apartments. Filling in at the nearby quarters of BCFD, Engine 46 and Truck 27, Engine 64 from the Easton Volunteer Fire Department in Talbot County and Tower 3 from the Westminster Fire Department in Carroll County were first to arrive and reported smoke showing from a low-rise
apartment building. Additional units dispatched included Delmar (Wicomico County), White Marsh (Baltimore County), District of Columbia, Savage (Howard County), Anne Arundel County Medic 33, and chiefs from Cecil County, Howard County and DC. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke on the building’s second floor and hoarding conditions in an apartment, with a mattress on fire. Crews quickly knocked down the fire and ventilated the building. One occupant was treated for smoke inhalation. Baltimore County Fire Department Air Unit 11 and a BCoFD Fire Investigator also responded. - Fire News photos by Mike Schwartzberg
Page 18, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Fully Involved in Moatsville
At 2308 on November 9, 2023, Engine 71 was alerted to assist to a working fire in a two-story dwelling fully involved. Engine 71 Philippi, Belington, Junior and Fellowsville with a structure fire on arrived and assisted with defensive fire suppression and water shutFelton Hill Road in Moatsville, Barbour County. Engine 71 staffed tle operations. - Photos courtesy of Nutter Fort FD with four personnel responded in three minutes. Engine 42 arrived
Vacant House Fire on Campbells Creek Dr. On November 28, 2023, at 0625, Kanawha County’s Station 3 Malden Volunteer Fire Department, Station 4 Rand Volunteer Fire Department and Station 5 Belle Volunteer Fire Department were alerted for a house fire on Campbells Creek Drive. Utility 3 and Engine 32 arrived to find a single-story vacant house, well involved, with exposure issues on side D. Crews pulled a 1-3/4 inch line to protect the exposure and Rand Engine 43 laid 1100 feet of four-inch supply line from a hydrant. Crews worked for about two hours to contain the fire. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 19
Total Loss at Easton Taco Bell
Lamp Power Cord Cause of Fire
Deputy Fire Marshals investigated a fire that occurred at the KFC/Taco Bell fast food restaurant located on Ocean Gateway in Easton on October 26, 2023. At approximately 0148, emergency response crews responded to the fire scene subsequent to a 911 call initiated by employees at the neighboring Wawa. Upon arrival, the Easton Volunteer Fire Department discovered a small fire venting from the building. Despite quick attack efforts and successful suppression, the fire resulted in a complete loss to the structure and contents estimated at approximately one-million dollars. Anyone who may have witnessed the fire or have information in reference to the fire is asked to contact the Upper Eastern Regional Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal at 410-822-7609, or callers may remain anonymous via the Arson Hotline at 1-800-492-7529. - Photo courtesy Maryland State Fire Marshal
Deputy State Fire Marshals have determined the cause of the fire that occurred on October 8, 2023, on Russell Avenue in Salisbury, Wicomico County. At 0955 the Salisbury Fire Department had been alerted to a blaze in a two-story, wood frame, single-family dwelling. It took 40 firefighters 50 minutes to bring the fire under control. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries as a result of battling the blaze. They were transported to a local hospital and later released. Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to respond to the scene by the Salisbury Fire Department to conduct an origin and cause investigation. Investigators determined estimated damages to the home to be $250,000. A dog and two cats perished in the fire. Deputy State Fire Marshals determined a power cord to a lamp in the living room of the home, which was located on the first floor, is what sparked the blaze. - Photo courtesy Maryland State Fire Marshal
Page 20, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Working Fire on Edmonson Ave.
Working Fire on Brooks Lane
Baltimore City firefighters from Engine 8 and Truck 10 battled a working fire in attached private dwellings on Edmonson Avenue on September 19, 2023. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
Baltimore City firefighters battled a working fire in a private dwelling on Brooks Lane on September 19, 2023. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
Metal Building Well Involved
Brush Fire in Younger Hollow Cemetery
On December 4, 2023, at 1349, Kanawha County’s Station 26 Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department, and Station 3 Malden Volunteer Fire Department were alerted for a reported structure fire on Walker Drive in area 26. Engine 263 arrived to find a 30-x 50-foot metal building well involved. Station 2 Pinch Volunteer Fire Department was added to the call. Sissonville Tanker 262 caught a hydrant and laid 800 feet of supply line. Crews worked together to contain the blaze. Units that responded were Sissonville E 263, T 262, Utility 268, Malden E 31, E32, Pinch, KCEAA 174,175, KCOEM 990,993,998, WVDEP 102, 104 and 105. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
At 1653 on November 25, 2023, Kanawha County Station 3 Malden Volunteer Fire Department was alerted for a unknown type fire in the area of Norman and Younger Drives in the Campbells Creek area. Crews arrived on scene to find a three-acre brush fire in the Younger Hollow Cemetery. Crews were able to cut a fire line around the fire and contain it in about two hours. Units that responded were Malden Squad 3, Utility 3 and WVDNR 5640, 5643. - News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
Page 22, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Rollover Becomes Hazmat Situation
Interstate 64’s Exit 45 at Nitro was the scene of an early morning tandem-tractor-trailer rollover, which turned into a hazmat situation, as paint was spilled on the entrance ramp from the first trailer, closing the ramp. It was learned that a corrosive material was in the second trailer, requiring a HazMat Team from Charleston Fire Department to make entry and determine whether the containers
had ruptured. The Nitro and Tyler Mountain fire departments were first on scene and handled the initial incident determination and cared for the driver who was transported to the hospital for precautionary purposes. The incident kept the on and off ramps closed for 11 hours. - Submitted by Joe Stevens, PIO
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 23
Vehicle Fire on the WV Turnpike
Engine 8 Douses Car Fire
On November 29, 2023, at 1045, Kanawha County’s Station 3 Malden Volunteer Fire Department and Station 40 Charleston Fire Department were alerted for a vehicle fire on Interstate 77 (WV Turnpike) milepost 95 southbound. Crews from both departments worked together to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and crews cleared the scene around 1120. Units that responded were Malden Rescue Engine 33, Utility 3, Charleston Engine 456, 408, Turnpike Patrol. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
Engine 8 of the Baltimore City Fire Department extinguished a vehicle fire on September 19, 2023. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
Page 24, Fire News, January/February 2024
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Possible Squatters in Morton Street Blaze
I-77 Vehicle Under Tractor Trailer
Baltimore City firefighters battled a raging fire in a vacant building with possible squatters on Morton Street near West 26th Street on October 5, 2023. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
On November 8, 2023, at 1306, Kanawha County’s Station 3 Malden VFD and Station 400 Charleston Fire Department were dispatched to Interstate 77 South at the 97 milepost for an MVA with a vehicle under a tractor trailer. Chief W.L. ‘Squeak’ Peterson arrived and advised of a car under the rear of a flatbed trailer with a small fire in the engine compartment. Rescue Engine 33 arrived and used a dry chemical extinguisher on the fire. Crews from both departments worked for a about 20 minutes to extricate the driver who was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center-General Division. Crews remained on scene to assist Hutch’s Wrecker Service remove the vehicle. Units that responded Malden Rescue Engine 33, Squad 3, Utility 3, Charleston FD Engine 454,456, Rescue 482, BC450,420 Medic 436, KCEAA Medic 149,176, KCOEM 991, WVDEP 102,104, KCSD 100,28,34,104. - Fire News photo by AC Bradley ‘Sparky’ Scott, Malden VFD
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Fire News, January/February 2024, Page 25
Charleston’s New Pal
Meet the Charleston Fire Department’s new friend “Emma.” Emma, kept firefighters busy for hours recently while they rescued her from a storm drain. As always, the firefighters of the CFD show their dedication to keeping Charleston safe. - Photos courtesy of Charleston FD
Flames Out the Windows on Arrival
Baltimore City firefighters battled a raging fire in a row home on Druid Hill Avenue on the evening of September 27, 2023. Flames were showing from three second-floor windows on arrival. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos
Clark Farm Drive Fire
At 1235 on November 27, 2023, Tanker 7 responded to a working structure fire on Clark Farm Drive in Doddridge County near the Harrison/Doddridge County Line to assist Smithburg, BANCS, and Salem. Tanker 7 responded with two personnel. West Union, Nutter Fort, Spelter, and Bridgeport were all additionally alerted due to staffing and water supply. Tanker 7 supplied its tank water and assisted in interior fire suppression and extensive overhaul. - Photo courtesy of Nutter Fort FD
Page 26, Fire News, January/February 2024
K9 Blondie Joins the Office of the State Fire Marshal When K9 “Kachina” retired nearly two months ago her handler, Master Deputy Oliver Alkire, was back in class the following Monday to begin training a second four-legged partner at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives National Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Last week, he and four-year-old K9 “Blondie” graduated and will be one of only 65 ATF trained accelerant detection teams in the United States. Master Deputy Alkire and Blondie and six other handlers from across the country graduated recently. The certification program is an intensive 12-week school focused on accelerant detection, canine methodology, fire chemistry, safety and first aid, health, wellness and several investigative disciplines. Blondie is trained to detect a variety of ignitable liquids and has performed tens of thousands of repetitions for odor recognition and detection during training. With six teams, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is honored and privileged to have the country’s largest partnership of ATF-trained canine teams. “I am very proud that the ATF has allowed the Office of the State Fire Marshal to be partners in their Accelerant Detection Canine program for nearly 30 years,” stated State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci. “We are dedicated to assisting ATF whenever they call, and this longstanding partnership is proof. We are excited to have K9 Blondie join our family. I am even more proud of our handlers and their families who dedicate themselves to working and training with their canine partners seven days a week, 365 days a year.” - Photo courtesy Maryland State Fire Marshal
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Nitro Gets Check for Rescue Gear
Walter Hall of the House of Delegates presented the Nitro Fire Department a $1500 check recently. The money will be used to purchase new rope rescue equipment for station 80. (Left to right): Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt, Delegate Hall and Nitro Fire Chief Casey Mathes. - Photo courtesy of Nitro FD
Boonsboro Fire Parade
Nitro Halloween Parade
The annual Halloween parade of students from Nitro Elementary School came by the Nitro Fire Department and the firefighters made sure there was plenty of candy to go around. - Submitted by Joe Stevens, PIO
The recent Boonsboro Fire Parade. -Fire News photo by Shane Shifflett