Commuter Bus Fire

August 5, 1823 hours
reported by Firefighter Tim Ramsey

At 1823 hours on Wednesday August 5th, 2009, Engine Company 12 was dispatched for a Commuter Bus on fire in the area of Berry Road and Bunker Hill Road. RE-123, Duty Officer 12 and Tanker 12 with Chief 12A responded with a total of nine personnel. While en route, units were advised that several calls had come into dispatch of a working bus fire. This added Engine Company 3 to the call. E-31 with Chief 3B and Chief 3A responded with a total of six personnel. RE-123 arrived on scene with a working bus fire and deployed a 1 3/4" attack line. Part of the crew opened up the primary door and began a primary search to confirm all occupants had exited the bus. Crews encountered heavy smoke on the interior, but there was no visible fire. The primary search returned negative and there were no occupants in the interior of the bus. RE-123 deployed a back-up line to the primary door and began ventilating the bus from the exterior. E-31 arrived on scene and picked up RE-123's supply line. E-31 took over ventilation operations from the interior with the back up line placed inside of the bus. Chief 3A established the command and requested Squad 3 to respond on the call for extra tools. The bulk of the fire was in the rear engine compartment, but was believed to have extended underneath the interior floor. Squad 3 arrived on scene and began opening up the floor. A small fire was found under the interior and was extinguished. Crews operated on scene for about an hour and a half.

Waldorf Units: RE-123, E-31, Squad 3, Tanker 12, and Chief 3A