Box 10-16. At 18:04 hours, "Carroll" dispatch received a 911 call for a deck fire in the Blue Ridge Manor development at 929 Clauser Ct. As they were dispatching the incident, more calls were received advising the fire had extended into the attic. Stations 10 (New Windsor), 8 (Union Bridge), 3 (Westminster), 6 (Pleasant Valley) and Ladder 5 (Taneytown) were dispatched for the House Fire.
Duty 10 (Lt. M. Moser) arrived at 18:08 hours to find a 'working fire' on the rear of a 2 story wood framed house and the fire had extended into the attic. Lt. Moser established "Clauser Court Command" and requested a 'Rapid Intervention Dispatch'. Engine 101 arrived and began to deploy a handline to 'Side A' and 'Side C' to knock both the interior and exterior fire. A hydrant was located directly in front of the residence which Engine 101 used as water supply for the fire attack.
Engine 102 arrived, bringing a second 'supply line' with Engine 33 covering the hydrant a block away. Chief 3-1, dispatched as 'Command Support', was made "Fire Attack" and crews immediately began to work interior to gain access to the attic, and to extinguish the deck fire. Engine 81 arrived and was tasked with a second handline to 'Division 1'. That crew began extinguishment in an area with a 20 foot cathedral ceiling.
Tower 3 and other crews vented the roof and the fire was placed "Under Control" at 18:40 hours. Extensive overhaul operations continued after the Fire Marshal conducted a preliminary investigation. Rescue Squad 8 was the last Station 8 unit to clear at 20:41 hours and "Clauser Court Command" terminated at 20:53 hours.
One firefighter from Engine 81 was transported to Carroll Hospital Center for heat exhaustion and later released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.
Stations 10, 8 and 3 were covered by "Transfer Company's" during the incident.
Units:
E-81, RS-8, E/T-82, PM-89
Mutual Aid:
E-101, E-102, B-105, M-109, Ut. 10-1, Duty 10 (New Windsor); E-33, TW-3, Chief 3-1 (Westminster); E-63 (Pleasant Valley); E-131 (Gamber); FCE-172 (Libertytown); FCRS-16 (Woodsboro); L-5 (Taneytown); FM-33 (Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office);
Box 10-16. House fire, initial arrival. Photo: Dylan Slagle, Carroll County Times
Side 'D' after fire was extinguished. Photo: Lt. C. Harris
Fire progressed from the deck up to the roof and attic. Photo: Lt. C. Harris
Due to the tall ceilings, firefighters used water streams to "open" the ceiling to extinguish some of the fire. Photo: Lt. C. Harris
E-101 had the plug in front of the address. Photo: Lt. C. Harris
Firefighters quickly knocked the bulk of the fire within minutes. Photo: Lt. C. Harris
Firefighters continue to "overhaul" the walls and ceiling areas. Photo: Steve Strawsburg Jr. (NW)
Living Room/Dining Room area with cathedral ceiling. Photo: Westminster
Fire burns out of the eaves on Side 'D'. Photo: T. Flater (NW)
Box 10-16. E-33 covered the hydrant for E-102. Photo: Deborah McMullin
Firefighters begin to "vent" the roof. Photo: Dylan Slagle, Carroll County Times
