Busy Morning Sends the NWFD to a Building Fire in Frederick County and to a Serious Accident on Route 27
By Captain Tom Coe
July 21, 2010
Just before 6am units from Woodsboro (Frederick County) were dispatched for an unknown type of outside fire in the area of Bower's Lumber Company in the 600 Block of South Main Street. Seconds after dispatch the assignment was upgraded to a working building fire. Engine 161 arrived to find a 30' x 100' building with heavy fire through the roof and an exposure issue. Engine 161 requested a second alarm and a tanker task force and began to mount an attack on the fire. With several units from Frederick and Carroll Counties responding to the alarm New Windsor's Engine 101 was dispatched to transfer to the Woodsboro Fire Station to assist in providing coverage.
As the incident progressed the fire rapidly moved into a 200' by 200' building. With 2 "ladder pipes" in service creating a high demand for water, a second tanker task force was requested to assist in the firefight brining Engine 101 to the scene. Initially tasked with finding a secondary site to fill tankers with water, Engine 101 and its crew of 6 was later diverted to the scene to assist with tasks at the firegound. Engine 101 operated on the scene for 2 hours prior to returning to service.
As the fire in Woodsboro raged, units from Westminster and Reese were alerted for a Motor Vehicle collision with reported entrapment on Route 27 in the area of Kate Wagner Road. First arriving units from Station 3 found a 4 vehicle chain reaction collision involving a Garbage Truck. Several additional units were requested to assist at the scene including Haz Mat 30 (to contain a hydraulic oil spill) and Paramedic 109 (4th ALS unit).