At 02:49am units from Westminster, New Windsor, Union Bridge, Pleasant Valley and Taneytown were dispatched to the 1300 Block of Western Chapel Road for a report of porch fire that was spreading into the house. First arriving, Chief 3-1 (J. Starry) found smoke and fire showing from the first and second floor of a log cabin style home. Assistant Chief Starry established the Western Chapel Road Command and requested the Rapid Intervention Dispatch and a Tanker Task Force with a structure that was 60% involved in fire. The crews from Engine 33 and 101 worked to knock the exterior surface fire then made a push through the front door to extinguish the fire.

A rural water supply operation was established as there were no fire hydrants in that area of the county. Tankers would bring water to the scene and then be refilled by Brush 105 at the dry fire hydrant on Nicodemus Road in the area of Medford Road. Paramedic 109 was added to the call to fill the first alarm assignment and Engine 102 was added to the call on the Rapid Intervention Dispatch. Once crews knocked the bulk of the fire, crews faced significant overhaul operations tracking out hot spots through out the house. Crews worked for over 4 hours at the scene prior to returning to service. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office and the Red Cross is assisting the occupants of the house.

NWFD Units: Engine 101, Engine 102, Brush 105, Paramedic 109, Utility 10-1

Other Units: Westminster: Engine 33, Tower 3, Ambulance 38, Utility 3, Chief 3, Chief 3-1; Union Bridge: Engine 81, Engine-Tanker 82, Paramedic 89, Command Support 8; Pleasant Valley: Engine 61, Engine 63, Tanker 6, Special Unit 6; Taneytown: Ladder 5; Hampstead: Truck 3; Gamber: Engine-Tanker 133; Winfield: Tanker 14; Manchester: Engine-Tanker 44; Lineboro: Air Unit 7; Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office: FM36