Four People, Including Firefighter, Burned At First Due House Fire - February 9, 2006

Four People, Including Firefighter, Burned At First Due House Fire - February 9, 2006 - At 1705 hours Engines 31, 231, and 331, Truck 3, Aerial Tower 23, Rescue Squad 3, Ambulance 238, and other Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units were dispatched to the 1200 block of Gladstone Drive, Company 3's area, for the house on fire with three people trapped. Company 3 arrived on the scene with heavy fire showing from the second floor and bystanders also reporting people trapped. The Rapid Intervention Dispatch, Task Force Assignment and multiple additional EMS units were added. Truck 3 and Rescue Squad 3 immediately began searching the home, while Engine 31 advanced an attack line into the house. As units worked inside, the three occupants turned up outside the structure, one with severe burns and smoke inhalation and the other two with minor burns. Additionally, one of the firefighters searching the home received second degree burns and smoke inhalation, having to be transported to Medstar Burn Center in the District of Columbia.
Engine 231 arrived on the scene shortly after Company 3, pulling a backup line and assisting Engine 31 with fire attack. Both crews aggressively attacked the fire, bringing it quickly under control with the assistance of the crews ventilating and opening up the structure. The fire was controlled within 15 minutes of arrival and crews cleared after about two 2 & 1/2 hours later.