Author Archives: chewitt

Building fire on Westminster Pike

Just after 8 am on Sunday June 30, 2024, a motorist on Westminster Pike noticed smoke coming from Full Moon Bar & Grill. A first alarm assignment was alerted for the building fire. Engine 412 arrived to find light smoke showing from the roof line near a neon sign. Crews found a small electrical fire in the soffit area. The fire was quickly extinguished without any extension into the soffit area.

Units: Engine 412, Engine 413, Engine 56, Tanker 56, Engine 19, Engine Tanker 503, Tanker Support 504, Engine 18, Truck 18, Engine 2, Tower 323, Carroll Engine 131, Carroll Engine 92, Carroll Medic 99, Battalion Chief 22.

Hose and Ladder Testing

Every year our hose and ladders get tested by a independent testing company. The tests are performed by IIA Fire Department Testing. The hose is tested to meet NFPA 1962 standards and the ground ladders are tested to meet NFPA 1932 standards. The hose needs to hold a pressure for a specified time. Any section that fails will be tagged. It will be repaired or replaced. All of our ground ladders will be visually inspected, weight tested, and have all heat sensors replaced. Our hard sleeves will get a visual inspection and have to hold a vacuum. It takes about 8 hours to complete the testing on all 6,900 feet of hose, 13 ground ladders, and 4 hard sleeves. Annual pump testing will be performed in the fall.

Chimney Fire In Gamber

Just after 5pm on April 25th Carroll County Fire Dispatch alerted units for a chimney fire on Christiana Drive. Engine 412 from Reisterstown, Engine and Tanker 56 from Franklin were alerted on the initial call. Gamber units arrived and found fire showing from the chimney area of the attic. Engine 412 arrived shortly after Gamber units and assisted with extinguishment. Squad 414 was alerted and was assigned to the Rapid Intervention Team. Fire was under control in under 20 minutes. No injuries were reported. Photos courtesy of Gamber VFD.

3 Alarm Fire at Advanced Auto Parts

On Tuesday July 18, 2023 at 2146 hours we were alerted for a commercial building fire in the auto parts store at Reisterstown Road and Cherry Hill Road. Engine 413, Squad 414, and Engine 412 responded on the first alarm. First arriving Engine 56 found heavy smoke showing from the Advance Auto Parts store in Reisterstown Shopping Center. Engine 56 immediately called for the second alarm.  Crews began an interior attack.

Around 2210 hours a Mayday was called after a ceiling collapsed, trapping a firefighter. The Rapid Intervention Team found the trapped firefighter and assisted them out of the structure.  The firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The third alarm was automatically dispatched because of the Mayday. 

The Baltimore County Police Department Fire Investigation Division is investigating the cause of the fire and one individual was taken into custody at the scene of the incident. 

Reisterstown units were on the scene for 5 hours on Tuesday night. Engine 56, Engine 412 and Squad 414 returned Wednesday evening for 6 more hours to put out hot spots in multiple layers of roofing materials. 

New Medic 415

The Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company has signed a contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for a new Dodge 5500 Road Rescue Medic unit. The new unit will be very similar to our current medic with only minor changes.

This unit will feature:

  • Four wheel drive
  • Cummins diesel motor
  • Liquid Spring Suspension
  • 170″ Ultra Medic aluminum body
  • Stryker Power Load with Power Cot

Dwelling Fire In Owings Mills

Just before 1800 hours on Saturday January 14th Engine 412 and Squad 414 were alerted for a dwelling fire in the area of Gwynbrook Ave. and Garrison Forrest Rd. Units from Owings Mills VFC, Garrison, Franklin, Reisterstown VFC, Glyndon VFC, Chestnut Ridge VFC, Randalstown, and Pikesville responded. First arriving units found a dwelling on Forestleigh Dr. with heavy fire through the roof. Reisterstown units operated on this incident for 3 hours. Pictures from Owings Mills VFC.

House Burning in Upperco

On Sunday September 5, 2021 Engine 413 and Squad 414 participated in an acquired structure burn on Glen Falls Rd. Firefighters from Upperco VFC, Reisterstown VFC, Chestnut Ridge VFC, Hereford VFC, Garrison, Randallstown, and Essex performed live burn evolutions. This training covered interior firefighting, ventilation, and rural water supply.