Heritage Place Apartment Fire

January 1, 1300 hours
reported by Deputy Chief DJ Mills

Waldorf VFD along with surrounding companies were alerted to Heritage Place for smoke coming from the building. Chief 3B arrived on the scene of a 1 story 4 unit apartment building and established command. Chief 3B observed fire showing from side B. Engine 32 and Engine 31 arrived on the scene and advanced a cross-lay into the apartment while Engine 31 was assigned to do a quick primary search due to by-standers reporting people trapped inside the apartment. Truck 1 arrived on the scene and began ventilation and checking for extension. Engine 32 reported the fire out within 5 minutes of arrival. Engine 121 was assigned to back up the initial attack line and Chief 12 B had Division 1. Command had Engine 22 and Rescue Engine 840 report to the exposures under Duty 1 to make sure the 3 adjoining apartments did not have any extension. Tower 824 was assigned RIT upon their arrival. Division 1 (Chief-12B) reported the fire out and under control along with Duty 1 reporting that the exposures (adjoining apartments) only had trapped smoke. Command placed Rescue Squad-7, Engine 836 and Engine 22 in service and reassigned Tower 824 to work with Rescue Engine-840 clearing the smoke out from the exposures. Once the smoke was cleared Command held Companies 3, 12, and 1 until the State Fire Marshal was done with their investigation. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature and all units cleared in about 2 hours.