Story by & Photos by
Kentland (MD) VFD

Shortly after 6 PM on July 27, 2002 Prince Georges's County, Maryland Fire Communications dispatched a reported house fire at 6876 Hawthorne Street in the Kentland Area the county.

Upon arrival units from the Kentland Station Engine 332, Tower 33 and Chief 33 arrived to find a two story townhouse with a fire on the first floor. As units were making their way up to the house the fire took off in intensity due to the failure of the front windows.

Citizens were screaming that someone was trapped on the second floor. Members from Tower 33 tried to advance up the interior stairs but were pushed back by the heavy fire involvement on the first floor. Ladders were then thrown to the second floor so a search could commence ahead of the fire.

Engine 332 advanced handlines to the house and controlled the bulk of the fire within 10 minutes. The searches turned up negative results. Volunteer Chief 33 (Riley) was the Incident Commander, the cause of the fire was determined to be and electrical problem in the front room. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

Companies from Chapel Oaks, West Lanham, Tuxedo and Cottage City assisted the units from Kentland at this fire.