Today we had a brush fire in Station 56’s area. They were out on another call (actually another brush fire). We arrived to find a large area that was burnt with many spot fires. We requested a second engine for more water due to the distance from a hydrant. It took about 15 minutes to completely put out the fires and cool down the area. Engine 56 had cleared their call and came over to our location.
This afternoon E56 and E412 were alerted for a brush fire in E56’s area based on multiple calls of smoke in the area. E56 arrived in the area and found a large shed or garage in fire. A Maryland State Trooper was flying overhead and was able to guide E56 and E412 to the correct address. There was a 20′ by 20′ shed fully involved in flames. Several more engines were requested as it was a non-hydrant area and then shortly after that a firebox was requested due to the proximity of the house and the need for water. It took several hours to put the fire out and the house was unscathed.
Today Hampstead had two dwelling fires so E413 was requested to go to fill in at Hampstead’s fire house. While there they were alerted for a 20′ by 20′ shed on fire as well as surround brush on fire. E413 arrived first and pulled handlines off. Numerous engines and tanker engines were required to put the fire out due to the lack of hydrants in the area.
Tonight we spent an hour training. S414 crew trained on the tripod and rope hauling and E412 crew trained on hoses.
Tonight we move our clocks ahead one hour.
When you do, don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detector AND your carbon monoxide detector.
S414 was alerted as a 2nd squad for a two car collision in Hamsptead Maryland. Two people were trapped and a Maryland State helicopter transported the two people to hospital. The crew from S414 helped with patient packaging and loading into the helicopter.
Here at Reisterstown we are always training to keep on top of all the functions we might have to perform. We spent a couple of hours tonight going through rope rescue training with probationary and new members to the company. This is something we don’t have to use often and so is good to practice.
It appears that we are going to get more ice and snow coming in the next 24 hours:
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST MONDAY... * PRECIPITATION TYPE...FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND HEAVY SNOW. * ACCUMULATIONS...UP TO ONE TENTH INCH OF ICE...FOLLOWED BY 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW. * TIMING...RAIN CHANGES TO FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THIS EVENING THEN BECOMES HEAVY SNOW LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. * TEMPERATURES...FALLING INTO THE LOWER 30S THIS EVENING...THEN DROPPING INTO THE LOWER 20S OVERNIGHT AND MONDAY. * WINDS...NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS TO 25 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY. * IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO ICE AND SNOW THROUGH MONDAY. BOTH THE MONDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON RUSH HOURS WILL BE AFFECTED. POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE COMBINATION OF ICE AND HEAVY SNOW.
Please be safe over the next few days, do not travel if at all possible and clear a 3 foot area around the closest fire hydrant to your house.
Tonight we had a good practice session on how to deploy hose from our engine on the main floor up a staircase and down a hall to a room. Not all fires and hose deployments are simple so this was good practice for all in how to work around corners and up stairwells.
Please come and support your community by giving blood at the Community Blood Drive on March 1.
*** Note: The Blood Donor Clinic has been changed to Northminister Presbyterian Church at 705 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD. ***
