On 12-11-05 units from St. Mary’s County Company 2, Charles Engines 2 and 5 and Truck 3 were alerted to Big Horn Court off of Mohawk Drive in Charlotte Hall for a reported bedroom fire.

First arriving Hughesville Engine 22 reported a working fire in a two story house. The crew from Engine 22 entered the structure and encountered smoke conditions with no visible fire. Engine 21 from Mechanicsville arrived and picked up Engine 22’s supply line and pulled a backup line off of Engine 22.

“Command” (Captain Trowbridge) advised that visible fire was now venting from the “Alpha/Delta” sides of the structure. Crews quickly opened the ceiling in the bedroom and found the fire which now had engulfed the entire attic area of that portion of the structure. After a quick knock on the fire, crews went to the overhaul and salvage stage. Truck 3 vented and assisted with salvage and overhaul.

The damages were estimated at about $125,000.00 to the structure and contents and the cause was determined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office to be……..Christmas lights. This was the second fire that has occurred recently which was attributed to Christmas lights (which totally destroyed a home).