Frederick County, MD, Firefighter Hurt in Wind-Driven Apartment Building Fire
A Frederick County Fire Rescue captain was injured during a two-alarm fire Friday afternoon.
Firefighters, who encountered fire showing from the front of the three-story apartment building, immediately called for a RIT and a second-alarm assignment as the wind in the area was about 40 mph.
During the primary search, firefighters located and rescued a teen from a second-floor apartment. He was transported to a hospital for a checkup, according to a fire department statement.
A Mayday was declared after the captain was struck on the head by a collapsing ceiling as he was ascending a stairwell.
Fellow firefighters quickly extricated him from the area. After treatment by EMS crews on the scene, he was flown by state police helicopter to Bayview Medical Center burn unit for serious burns.
Fire Chief Tom Coe said the injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.
"It could have been much worse..." the chief said after leaving the Baltimore hospital Friday night. "He will have a long road to recovery."
After the Mayday, the incident commander ordered firefighters to evacuate the structure and conduct a defensive attack.
Dark smoke from the fire was visible for miles around the Frederick area.
Departments from several neighboring jurisdictions transfered to handle calls in Frederick County during the incident.
The cause is under investigation.
Frederick County, MD Firefighter Hurt at Apartment Building Fire
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.