Hagerstown, MD- On February 22nd, Hagerstown firefighters were awaken early to an attic fire at 36 Fairground Avenue.
Crews dispatched out around 05:12 hours arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the structure with exposures.
Battalion Chief 2 (Randy Myers) arrived and immediately requested an additional Ladder Truck along with a Medic Unit for a burn patient on the scene.
Once Chief Myers assessed the situation, he placed Fairground Command in effect and requested the second alarm along with two additional medic units to the scene.
Firefighters on the fire were facing the threat of exposures upon arrival. Fire was shooting out the attic apartment upon their arrival causing the siding on the residence across the alley to melt.
Firefighters worked to rescue occupants that were on the balcony upon their arrival while crews began an aggressive attack on the blaze.
Firefighters continued to battle the blaze for nearly a half an hour before gaining control.
Command reported the fire under control to dispatch around 5:59 am.
Crews remained on the scene for several hours conducting overhaul and assisting the Hagerstown Fire Marshals Office with their investigation.
American Red Cross was also notified to assist two families that were displaced by the fire.
Fire crews on the scene were able to wrap up operations around 08:46 hours that morning.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation.
During the blaze, Community Rescue attended to a Priority 1 patient with burns to the face as well as injuries they sustained when they jumped from the third floor window to escape the blaze.
The patient was transported to Washington County Trauma Center and later transferred out to a Bay View.
The patient was last known to be listed in critical condition at Bay View Medical in Baltimore.
Crews on the call were First Hose Eng1, Antietam Fire Eng2, Juniors Fire Eng3, Western Enterprise Station 4, South End Fire Eng5, Halfway Truck.26, Longmeadow Truck 27, Maugansville Rescue Squad 13, Community Rescue Co.75, Washington County Air Unit 25 and Rehab Unit 255, Red Cross, and HFD Fire Marshals Office.
