Working Chimney Fire
 
By Assistant Chief Christopher Harris
January 8, 2018
 

Box 8-8. At 08:31 hrs, Station 8, 10, 5, Frederick 9 and Frederick 13 units were dispatched for a chimney fire with smoke inside the residence at 384 Bucher John Road. First arriving Engine/Tanker 84 (Hess) found heavy smoke and fire from the chimney; and smoke conditions coming from the front door. FF Hess established "Bucher John Road Command" and requested the "Rapid Intervention Dispatch", bringing Frederick 16, Frederick 17, Frederick 18 and Command Support 3 to the incident.

Crews began to search for fire in the walls while Engine 101 laid a supply line back the lane. Ladder 5 arrived and went to work on the roof. After about 20 minutes, it was determined that the fire had remained inside of the chimney, but smoke had bled though the old brick/motar unlined chimney walls, filling the walls with smoke. Crews extinguished the fire in the chimney and cleaned out the debris before going in-service. Only minor damage to the interior occurred due to opening the walls next to the chimney in search of fire.

Station 8 Units On-Scene: Engine/Tanker 84, Paramedic 89, Utility 8

Mutual Aid Units On-Scene: Station 10 (New Windsor), Station 5 (Taneytown), Station 3 (Westminster), FC Station 9 (New Midway), FC Station 13 (Rocky Ridge), FC Station 16 (Woodsboro), FC Station 17 (Libertytown), FC Station 18 (Graceham)