Brush Fire near Davis Middle School

August 12, 1511 hrs
 

Waldorf Volunteers were dispatched to Davis Road in the area of North Point High School for the brush fire. Engine Company 12 responded with E-121, Tanker-12, E-124, and Captain 12 in the Command unit. At the time of dispatch, RS-3 was on Rt-228, returning from a run to PG county. The officer of RS-3 reported a heavy column of black smoke in the area. RS-3 responded directly to the scene because of their proximity to the scene. E-34, B-3 and Chief 3B responded as well.

RS-3 arrived on the scene, which was actually behind Davis Middle School, and found the same column of heavy black smoke, about a half mile behind the school. Due to the terrain, RS-3's crew started back on foot to recon the fire. E-121 arrived shortly after RS-3 to the rear of the school. Unable to find access from the rear of the school, E-121 explored other means of access to the fire and located a dirt road south of the school, off of Davis road. RS-3's crew arrived on the scene of the fire to find a dump truck, a piece of construction machinery and a large pile of mulch on fire. The fire was located in the right-of-way area for the overhead utility lines that run parallel to Davis Road. In the meantime, Chief 3B found another road, providing access to the fire, from Bunker Hill Road. Both roads that were found had make-shift construction bridges that units had to cross, prior to arriving on the scene. Captain 12 established the command and requested an additional tanker and Dozer 8. Chief 3B had Operations.

Units worked for about 1 hour to extinguish the machinery and mulch fire. The MD State Forestry Department is investigating the fire.