Over the past 10 days the FVFAC and neighboring Volunteer Fire Companies responded to numerous incidents throughout the area. Last Thursday (8/19/2021) at approximately 4:30 p.m. FVFAC units responded to a MVC with injuries at Belair Rd and Reckord Rd. On Friday (8/20/2021) FVFAC units again responded to Belair Rd. this time at the intersection of Wilgis Rd for a MVC with injuries during the afternoon hours. These MVC calls both resulted in no-life threatening injuries.
On Saturday (8/21/2021) at 3:26 p.m. Harford County DES dispatched a first alarm assignment for a report of a dwelling fire in the 100 block of Cherry Hill Rd., in the Street area. This call was determined to be a working fire located in the basement of the dwelling. Due to neighboring companies being on this scene, the FVFAC was dispatched to relocate an engine to cover Company 7’s area (Jarrettsville VFC). While transferring to Co 7, Engine 1311 was dispatched to, and handled, a vehicle fire on Grier Nursery Rd.
Monday (8/23/2021) at 3:51 p.m. FVFAC and Bel Air VFC units were dispatched to another MVC, this one involving an overturned vehicle and pole down, in the 1900 block of Grafton Shop Rd. Again, this MVC resulted in minor injuries. (photo credit BAVFC)
Wednesday (8/25/2021) the FVFAC and BAVFC were dispatched to a truck fire on Bel Air Rd. Units arrived to find a commercial vehicle towing a trailer with a engine compartment fire. Crews worked together to extinguish this fire. There were no injuries reported. (photo credits above BAVFC)
The morning of August 26, 2021 started for the FVFAC with an EMS call that Medic 13-2, Engine 1311, and ALS Utility 13 handled at 9:13 a.m. As units cleared this call and returned to the station Harford County DES dispatched a first alarm residential structure fire assignment in the 3600 block of Anderson Lane in Jarrettsville. FVFAC Engine 1311, Truck 13, and Tanker 13 responded to this scene. Multiple callers to the 9-1-1 center reported that the “whole house is on fire”. First arriving Co. 7 units reported a 2 story dwelling with fire throughout the 1st and 2nd floors, and through the roof. Units initiated a master stream attack with Truck 13’s ladder pipe and Engine 713’s deck gun to extinguish the bulk of the fire. Crews using three handlines then continued extinguishing areas of fire and performed final extinguishment with Truck 13’s ladder pipe. This fire required a rural water operation to maintain the water supply needed for these master stream operations. Engines and Tankers shuttled water from a draft site on Jarrettsville Road to provide a consistent water supply to the scene. (photos above from BAVFC, FVFAC).
At 3:30 p.m. on the 26th of August Truck 13 and Medic 13-2 were dispatched to assist Kingsville VFC units on a MVC reported with entrapment on Bradshaw Rd at Jerusalem Rd. Baltimore County units arrived and determined there was no entrapment, Truck 13 cleared and and soon after Medic 13-2 was placed in service. Shortly before 5 p.m. also on August 26th, Rescue 13 was dispatched to assist the Joppa Magnolia VFC on MVC with injury and entrapment at MD 152 and I-95. Units from the JMVFC arrived and advised there was no entrapment, Rescue 13 was placed in service.
Just before 10 a.m. on Friday August 27, 2021 FVFAC Tanker 13 was dispatched to a dwelling fire in the Whiteford area. This fire, in the 4400 block of Slate Ridge Road, was well advanced on arrival of the first fire suppression units. The two story dwelling was reported to be not occupied at the time of the fire. A defensive fire attack was initiated due to the amount of fire encountered by the initial crews. This fire also necessitated additional alarms and special calls for tankers due to the need for large volumes of water and engines for staffing needs due to the weather conditions during this extended operation. (photo credit FVFAC, OSFM)
As thunderstorms moved through Harford County Friday evening (August 27, 2021), several additional calls for possible residential structure fires were dispatched in the area. FVFAC Engine 1311, Truck 13, Tanker 13, and Chief Officers responded to reports of dwelling fires between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the 2200 block of Furnace Road, 4300 block of Federal Hill Rd., and the 1600 block of Kreitler Valley Road all in the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Co. area. These three calls were apparently the result of lightening strikes and/or electrical malfunctions and resulted in minor damages to the homes. FVFAC also responded to a wires down call during this period in the 3900 block of Madonna Road.
During this 10 day period FVFAC Fire and EMS units responded with and worked alongside of Volunteer Fire Company personnel from throughout Harford, Baltimore, York, and Lancaster Counties. Our Harford County DES-Fire Dispatch Center did a remarkable job locating resources from the throughout the four county area. The members of the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal have worked tirelessly over these days and nights to determine the cause and origin of not only the fires reported in Harford County, but several fires in Cecil County also. Without the teamwork and cooperation of all these agencies we could not perform our duties providing emergency services for the residents of our communities as expected of us.
