1 Alarm Fire Near Union Bridge

Box 8-8. At 17:21hrs., Stations 8, 10, 5, Frederick County 9 and Frederick County 13 received a dispatch for a “House on Fire” at 444 Bucher John Road. Chief 8 (Green) arrived at 17:27hrs., reporting a 2 story house with an attached garage and smoke showing. After establishing “Bucher John Road Command” and upon further investigation, he reported fire showing from Side “C” of the attached garage and confirmed that all residence had evacuated the structure, which had now been determined to be an apartment. A "Rapid Intervention Dispatch" was also requested.

Engine 81 arrived and advanced an attack line through an entrance on Side “A”, finding heavy fire conditions as they entered the structure. Engine/Tanker 84 arrived and with the help of Paramedic 89's crew, advanced a second attack line from Engine 81 to the same entry point as back-up, as well as provided ‘nurse-tanker’ operations for Engine 81.

Engine 101 pulled a third attack line from Engine/Tanker 84 to the Side “C” exterior (back bedroom). Brush 105 established a water supply at a fire pond on Union Bridge Road. It was also determined that one of the residents of the apartment had possible smoke inhalation and was transported by PM 109 to Carroll Hospital Center.

As additional units arrived, crews were utilized to relieve the initial attack personnel and completed other fire ground tasks as needed. With the narrow roads, Tankers supplied the ‘nurse-tanker’ directly with a minimal amount of water being used during the incident.

The fire was contained to the original apartment with no extension into the main house which consisted of two apartments as well. Only one resident was transported to the hospital. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene and the investigation into the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

At 18:48hrs., Command began releasing units from the fire ground and the last unit cleared the scene at 20:21hrs.

Thanks to Frederick County Engine 172 (Libertytown) for transferring to Union Bridge during the incident.

Units on Scene: E81, E/T84, PM89, Chief 8, Chief 8-1 (Union Bridge); E101, B105, PM109 (New Windsor); L5, E/T54, PM59 (Taneytown); FCTa9 (New Midway); FCE/T134, FCE132 (Rocky Ridge); FCE161 (Woodsboro); TW3 (Westminster); FCBatt902 (Frederick Co. Battalion Chief); FM44 (MSFMO); Alleghany Power; Carroll Co. Sheriff’s Office