Prince Georges County Fire Department (MD) units responded to the Level III HazMat at the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (http://www.lps.umd.edu/) on the campus of the University of Maryland Friday afternoon. Units discovered a release of what is being reported as hydrogen bromide in a “Lab Clean Room”.
HazMat units worked to contain the release and also performed a three stage decontamination of the firefighters and HazMat technicians who were involved in the operation.
Units from the Prince Georges County HazMat team were on the scene as well as support units including Squad 14 (Berwyn Heights), Engine 12 (College Park), Truck 34 (Chillum-Adelphi), Engine 1 (Hyattsville), the PGFD Command Unit and various other engine companies, battalion chief units and support teams.
Thanks to Mark Brady, Chief PIO of PGFD for supplying info on the incident via his Twitter feed https://twitter.com/PGFDPIO.
At this time, no one was reported to be injured from the incident. The incident was ongoing as of 6 p.m. on Friday but units were working to complete the decon process.
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.
Prince Georges County and Montgomery County firefighters responded to the working house fire on 25th Ave. in West Hyattsville on Friday. Firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from the duplex and proceeded to knock down the basement fire. Units from College Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale, Chillum, and Takoma Park were on the scene. No injuries were reported.
Prince Georges County Fire Department companies were alerted to the structure fire box at the McDonalds on Baltimore Pike (Rt. 1) in College Park (MD) around 11:30 hours Thursday morning. On arrival, firefighters had smoke showing with fire through the roof. It appears that the fire started in a fryer unit and then extended into the building.
I arrived shortly after the bulk of fire was knocked and have some overhaul and apparatus shots.
Prince Georges County Fire Department (PGFD) and Montgomery County Fire & Rescue (MCFRS) were alerted for the house fire on Broad Blvd. in Beltsville, MD on Friday morning. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and fire showing from a bedroom window(s) of a one-story SFH. Occupants of the house escaped after being alerted by smoke alarms, and firefighters rescued two dogs that had become lethargic and disoriented inside the home due to the smoke. The dogs were given oxygen and recovered quickly from smoke inhalation. Companies from Burtonsville, Calverton, Berwyn Heights, and Laurel were on the scene and worked hard to knock this fire down quickly.
The fire was knocked quickly. I arrived after overhaul had completed and found Chillum-Adelphi’s Engine 341 as the last remaining piece on the scene. Engine 341 is a unique apparatus, a 1991 Grumman FireCat. It’s served Chillum for over 20 years and at hundreds of working fires.
