Routine Call turns into Multiple Fires
along Old Washington Road

May 15, 2004 1204hrs:

Engine Co.3 was dispatched for a "trash" fire across the street from CarQuest on Old Washington Road. As Engine 33 was pulling out of quarters, the crew observed a large column of black smoke in the general direction of the reported incident. Minutes later, the crew arrived on scene to find a stake body truck fully involved in fire. Engine 32 responded to assist with additional water due to the location of the vehicle behind a large commercial warehouse structure. Both Engines emptied their 500-gallon water tanks and had to refill at a fire hydrant on the opposite side of Old Washington Road. As Engine 32 was refilling, black smoke was seen coming from behind an auto body shop directly across the street. At the same time, Engine 33's crew found a small brush fire in the vicinity of their location and began extinguishing it. Engine 32 proceeded to the auto body shop and found 2 piles of trees and 1 large pile of trash burning in the rear lot. At this point, Engine 33 requested 2 additional Brush Units to respond and Tanker 12. Engine 34 responded to assist at Engine 33's location while Brush 12 assisted Engine 32. Tanker 12 initially setup a refill site in the parking lot of the Waldorf Warehouse. Once the brush fire was extinguished, Tanker 12 refilled and relocated to the rear of the auto body shop to assist Engine 32. Once on scene, the handline was disconnected from Engine 32 and fed directly off Tanker 12. Using Tanker 12's FoamPro system, both piles of burning trees were covered with Class A foam to assist in the extinguishment. After both piles were sufficiently covered in foam, the units on scene began taking up. The Office of the State Fire Marshall was requested to respond to the original scene to investigate the cause of the truck fire. All units cleared the scene at 1333hrs and returned to quarters.

Waldorf Responding Units: Engine 33, Engine 32, Engine 34, Brush 12, Tanker 12, and Chief 12B.