Rt. 36 MVC With Entrappment
Photo Credit: John A. Bone - Cumberland Times News
December 22, 2007 - At 12:39, units were dispatched for a vehicle accident on Rt. 36 at the off ramp from Interstate 68. Engine 162 arrived and found a 2 vehicle accident and reported double entrapment with 1 serious injury. An additional Squad was then requested from Co. 18. Engine 171 and Squad 16 arrived and prepared for extrication. It was then found that only one patient was trapped and that the other had just not yet gotten out of the vehicle. An elderly female, who was the front seat passenger in the red car, was found to be unresponsive and barely breathing. Due to her condition, the decision was made to due a rapid extrication through the driver's side. The was removed from the vehicle and packaged for transport while awaiting the medic unit's arrival, with extrication completed at 12:47. The female patient was transported Priority 1 to the Trauma Center at WMHS Memorial Campus. Two other patients were also transported to the Trauma Center with less serious injuries. The husband of the first patient, who was the driver of the red car was transported Priority 2 and the driver of the orange pickup was transported Priority 3.
Heavy fog enveloped the area and contributed to the accident. An Engine from Co. 14 was also request to assist in shutting down Rt. 36 due to the fog and for accident reconstruction. The driver of the red car was determined to be at fault, when he failed to yield the right-of-way while exiting the Interstate. He pulled into the path of the other vehicle after not seeing it due to the fog.
This was the second accident due to the fog on Rt. 36 this day. Approximately 2 hours earlier an accident occurred a 1/2 north on Rt. 36 in front of the Burger King. There were minor injures in the first accident, and all patients refused transport.
Units on the scene included: Engine 162, Squad 16, Utility 16, Engine 17 (Shaft), Squad 18 (Midland), Engine-Tanker 14 (Clarysville), Medic 343 (Cumberland), Medic 359 (Frostburg Ambulance), and Medic 371 (LaVale Rescue). Assistant Chief 16A, Mike Kucharczyk, was the incident commander.
2 Alarm - 17 House
19813 Woodland Rd.
Photo Credit: Wesley Haines - Cumberland Times News
November 24, 2007 - At 20:28 the house alarm was dispatched for reported structure fire next to 19901 Woodland Rd., in Co. 17's first due. Engine 171 arrived and reported a fully involve house and requested the upgrade to a working alarm. Shortly thereafter, the 2nd alarm was also requested. Firefighters initially performed an exterior attack until a water supply was established, then an aggressive interior attack was initiated. Access to the second floor was hampered due to the staircase being burnt out, but firefighters eventually found a second staircase in the rear of the house. Heavy smoke conditions on the second floor nearly caused problems for firefighters there, as they were unable to see the staircase that had been burnt out, and one firefighter nearly fell down through the hole were the staircase use to be. However, he was able to catch himself and thus avoided what probably would have been serious injuries. The residents of the house were not home when the fire started, and arrived home to fine their house on fire. They went to a neighbor's house and reported the fire. FM25 investigated the fire and ruled it accidental in nature. Combustible material was left too close to an electric fire place. Damages have been estimated at $50,000 for the structure and $30,000 for contents. The house was a total loss, and there was no insurance on the property. No injuries were reported in the blaze.
Units responding were: Engine 171, Engine 172, Utility 17 (Shaft), Truck 16, Engine 162 (Frostburg), Engine 182, Squad 18 (Midland), Engine-Tanker 14, Air 14 (Clarysville), Engine-Rescue 20 (Good Will), Engine-Tanker 19 (Barton), and Ambulance 359 (Frostburg Area Ambulance). Engine 81 (Eastern Garrett) and Squad 8 (Bowling Green) stood-by at Station 17. Assistant Chief 17, Jeff Pfister, was the Incident Commander.
Follow the links below for video of the fire. Additional Pictures below. Thanks to Lt. 22 Eric Derham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqhgJ-11ElY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ7ptXnZrP0
Arrest Made in FSU Dorm Fire
November 12, 2007 - An 18-year-old Frostburg State University student has been arrested and charged in connection with fire in the Frederick Hall dormitory. The student, who is a Pikesville resident, was charged with malicious burning in the second degree in connection with the Oct. 26 fire involving clothing that was ignited on the fifth floor of Frederick Hall. The fire was extinguished quickly by students and no one was injured. No motive has been established for the fire.
Suspect Arrested in Arson Fire
November 3, 2007 - A suspect has been arrested in the arson fire that occurred on October 26th, at 127 Wood St. Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested a 19 year old FSU student from New York and charged him with second-degree malicious burning, reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property in connection with the fire. The student was a resident of the apartment and allegedly set the clothing of one of his roommates on fire. The motive for the fire has not been released. The investigation into the fire the same night at FSU in continuing and arrests are pending.
Firefighters Respond To Arson Fires
October 26, 2007 - At 02:51 units were dispatched to the report of an apartment fire at 127 Wood St., in Frostburg. Chief 16, Kip DeVault, arrived on the scene and advised the fire was out and to have Truck 16 and Engine 17-11 proceed in and to place the rest of the "Box" inservice. Firefighters found that clothing hanging in a bedroom closet had been set on fire, and there were no obvious ignition sources. The fire had been extinguished by the occupants of the apartment. The Maryland State Fire Marshal was called to investigate, and firefighters secured the scene and remained to assist the FM. Damage was limited to the clothing and carpeting in the bedroom. While the FM was investigating, dispatch advised command that they had a report for Frostburg State University Police, that clothing had been set on fire on the 5th Floor of Frederick Hall at FSU. The fire was out, but they wanted it investigated. Chief 16 cleared the Truck to respond to FSU. Truck 16 secured the scene until the FM was able to clear on Wood St. and respond to FSU. The fire was extinguish by a resident of the dorm and was too small to activate the alarm system. Damage was limited to the clothing that had been set on fire.