Fast Moving Christmas Eve Fire Destroys Hawks Hill Home

At 4:51pm units from Station 10 were dispatched to the 1200 Block of Jo Apter Place in Atlee Ridge for an investigation of smoke in the area. Engine 101 arrived in the area they noted that the smoke was coming from a house that was accessed off of Hawks Hill Road and requested the full box alarm assignment.

Engine 101 arrived to find a two story farm house fully involved. Sergeant 10-2 (B. Moser) established the Hawks Hill Road Command and requested a Rapid Intervention Dispatch, Tanker Task Force and Second Alarm to bring additional water and personnel to the scene. As crews tried to make entry to the structure to knock down the fire, the fire conditions deteriorated rapidly and firefighters were ordered to evacuate the structure.

Hose lines were moved into place to knock down the fire from the exterior of the building and to protect the surrounding buildings. The fire was placed under control at 5:52pm but units remained on the scene for several hours to expose and extinguish remaining hot spots. Regrettably the house and its contents were a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.