Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units from the 3rd and 4th battalions were alerted to the house fire on Paul Drive in Rockville towards the tail end of the evening rush hour on Friday. First arriving units reported the working fire with fire showing from the 2nd floor. The working fire dispatch was sounded, followed quickly by the RIT alert/alarm.
Firefighters from Rockville companies 3, 23 and 33; Kensington Company 5; and 25; and Rescue 2 (Wheaton) battled the fire. Firefighters rescued a puppy from the house and the dog was quickly returned to its owner, shaken but unharmed.
On Monday morning Montgomery County Fire & Rescue was alerted to the aircraft down/plane crash into a residence in Gaithersburg, MD. A twin-engine jet careened into the front yard of a single family house. The impact resulted in one of the jet’s wings (containing fuel) being launched into a neighboring house causing a massive fire and multiple explosions.
Firefighters launched a rescue operation but were forced to continue their firefight and attack from the exterior of the buildings. Large amounts of water and foam were applied. Multiple rescue squads and special operations units raced to the scene to provide operations and support.
Tragically three people in the jet, and three residents of the house suffering the fire were killed.
The crash is under investigation by the NTSB.
Here are some shots I took about 40-45 minutes into the incident. I also returned to the scene at night to take some photos of Rescue Squad 703 providing scene lighting for the ongoing investigation.
On Friday afternoon, units from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions (75-100 total firefighters) battled a 2-alarm fire in an apartment complex in the Aspen Hill section of the county. Combustibles in the walls of the complex ignited, extending the fire through all floors making this a challenging firefight.
Full rundown of units provided by Montgomery Fire Wire (FB page):
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units from the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions engaged in an intense firefight and performed a rescue on Iris Street in the Aspen Hill section of the county early Thursday morning. First arriving units encountered heavy fire and smoke conditions in a two-story house. Firefighters located a victim on the 2nd level and performed a rescue operation using ground ladders. The victim was removed and rushed to the MedStar Washington Hospital Burn Center with multiple injuries. Conditions in the house deteriorated to the point of command ordering evacuations from the structure.
According to reports the house had no smoke detectors. Two firefighters were injured during the rescue operations. Sadly, the 82-year-old victim succumbed to her injuries. Cause of the fire remains under investigation but is believed to be arson.
More about the operations and fire can be found in the following reports:
Photos from photojournalist and MCFRS photographer Beverly Jensen, and myself follow. I arrived later in the morning hours and captured some images of the apparatus on scene and the overhaul operations. Beverly arrived with the first-due units and captured some stunning photos of the firefight and rescue.
Many thanks to Beverly Jensen and to MCFRS Chief Public Information Officer Pete Piringer (https://twitter.com/mcfrsPIO) for sharing reports and photos from the fireground.
Trevor James
Photo by Beverly Jensen
Photo by Beverly Jensen
Photo by Beverly Jensen
Photo by Beverly Jensen
Photo by Beverly Jensen
Photo by Trevor James
Photo by Trevor James
Photo by Trevor James
Photo by Trevor James
Photo by Trevor James
More photos taken by Beverly Jensen from the early stages of the fire can be found here:
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units from the 2nd Battalion including Rescue Squad 1 (Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad), Engine 707, and Tower 51 (National Institutes of Health) responded to the building fire on Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase on Monday afternoon. This job was toned out as I was returning from the College Park Engineering Lab fire.
Units briefly had to double check with dispatch regarding the location of the incident since the dry cleaning business’ building is so small and nestled between some larger commercial structures. A slight haze and odor was located inside the dry cleaners building and firefighters quickly cleared the smoke. The incident was placed under control and units were quickly returned to service.
The Metro DC region was drenched by heavy rains resulting in flash flooding and many submerged vehicles requiring water rescue assignments especially on the north side of the beltway. At approximately 1200 hours, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units were alerted for a water rescue at Beach Drive and Connecticut Avenue. Paramedic Engine 707 arrived to find one car submerged in high water on Beach Drive with possible trapped occupants.
A full water rescue assignment brought Strike Team 730, one of three MCFRS water rescue strike teams. Strike Team 730 is made up of firefighters and rescue techs from the Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department & River Rescue Team. The team includes a squad that tows inflatable rescue boats. Rescue Squad 741 was the special service on scene and provided additional rescue support for the strike team. Rescuers removed three occupants from the vehicle safely using the rescue boat and brought them back to awaiting EMS medics from the Wheaton Rescue Squad.
All occupants were safely removed and uninjured. Battalion Chief 702 had command. The incident was cleared within approx. 45 min. While working this incident, units from Strike Team 30 responded to another nearby water rescue on Beach Drive.
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units from the 2nd battalion were toned out on Monday morning for the house fire in Chevy Chase on Cummings Lane. Multiple callers to 911 dispatch reported smoke. First-due units including Rescue 1 (Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad), Truck 706, and Engine 707 arrived to find smoke showing from multiple sides of the structure. As firefighters began their interior attack, a RIT alarm was toned bringing PGFD (Prince Georges County Fire Department) Rescue Squad 801 to the scene to fulfill RIT duties.
An aggressive interior attack was made on the 1st and 2nd levels and into the basement of the house, and multiple searches were performed by the squad company, all reporting as negative. Fire was knocked quickly and units remained in the structure to clear smoke and check for extension.
RIT was de-escalated placing RS801 back into service. Units including Engine 754 from Fort Detrick briefly took over RIT duties and then helped with overhaul. Rehab was performed by the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad EMTs and Paramedics. The air unit re-supplied bottles, and the Kensington Canteen unit provided cold refreshments to assist with rehab. Battalion 702 had command. Units remained on the scene for approx. 3 hours. Here are some overhaul shots.
