The Hughesville Volunteer Fire and EMS Department and the Benedict Volunteer Fire Department hosted a live fire training exercise on Grosstown Road near Dentsville on Sunday, December 7, 2003, from about 8 a.m. until about 2 p.m. During the exercise, over 35 firefighters (from entry level to the most experienced) received quality “real-life” training in a donated structure that was due to be demolished.

As all of the units from Hughesville and Benedict finished cleaning up and were leaving the training site, the Charles County 9-1-1 center dispatched them, along with Prince Frederick, Mechanicsville and Waldorf VFDs, to a reported garage fire in the Carriage Crossing neighborhood, off of Brandywine Road. As fate would have it, the garage fire was located clear across the first due from where the training was taking place.

All of the units responded to the garage fire almost immediately. Hughesville’s ambulance arrived first and found the garage fire with heavy extension into the two story home. All of the occupants were home at the time of the fire but managed to escape without injury, mainly due to the proper operation of in-home smoke alarms!

As units arrived, Chief 2 assumed command followed by Engine 22, who took an attack line into the house. Tanker 2’s crew took a second attack line into the house and Benedict’s crew was assigned the back-up line. Lt. Hurysh was designated as the Safety Officer and assessed and monitored the extensive damage to the house with the RIT from Mechanicsville. Deputy Fire Chief Herbert assumed the Interior Sector while Assistant Fire Chief McPherson managed the Exterior Operations. Lt. Cole was assigned the Water Supply Officer duties and managed the responding tankers

The fire was mostly contained to the garage area and the area around it but most of the structure received severe residual damage from fire, heat, smoke and water.

One firefighter received a minor burn to his chest and neck and was treated and released on the scene. The home owner advised that he removed fireplace ashes from his fireplace and placed them in a brown paper bag. He placed the bag inside the garage and shut the door until the smoke alarms started to sound a few hours later. As they began to check for smoke, they discovered the fire as it was beginning inside the garage. Due to the freezing weather, the home owner was unable to use the garden hose to try and extinguish or contain it.

The family was displaced and lost most of their belongings as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross is assisting the family until their insurance kicks in and the Animal Shelter is housing the family pets.