Kitchen Fire Results in Heavy Damage
to an Apartment on Otter Square

March 4, 2004 1452hrs:

Waldorf units were dispatched for a reported stove on fire in an apartment on Otter Square. Engine 33 and Truck 3 arrived on scene to find a 1-story apartment complex with smoke coming showing from the side windows and the front door. Engine 33's crew advanced a 1¾" preconnect line into the apartment and found a kitchen on fire. While the Engine crew extinguished the fire, Truck 3's crew conducted a primary search with negative results and vented the windows. Chief 3B assigned Engine 121 to exposure side 4 to check for possible extension into the neighboring apartment and held the rest of the responding units in staging. Engine 121 found no extension into the exposure. Chief 3B released all the units in staging and held the units from Waldorf Stations 3 & 12 for smoke removal and overhaul. Units operated on the scene for 1 hour before picking up and returning to quarters. The American Red Cross was requested to assist with finding a temporary living facility for one adult female. The cause of the fire was determined to be grease left unattended on the stove.

Waldorf Responding Units: Engine 33, Truck 3, Engine 121, Ambulance 37, and Chief 3B.

Mutual Aid Units: Brandywine Engine 401 & 402, La Plata Engine 11, Accokeek Tower 24, Bryans Road Truck 11, and Hughesville Squad 2.