On August 07, 2003 at 2021 hrs, Hughesville Company 2 was alerted to a house fire at 13808 Burnt Store Road. Engine 23, under the command of Deputy Fire Chief (Scott Herbert), responded and arrived on the scene finding smoke venting from the structure.

All responding units switched to the fireground channel as Chief Herbert assumed the Burnt Store Road Command. Crewmembers from Engine 23 depolyed an 1 3/4″ preconnect line into the structure, finding heavy smoke conditions throughout and found the kitchen cabinets involved with fire.

Engine 23’s crew quickly contianed and extinguished the fire. Chief Herbert held Company 2 units and Engine 53 and requested the State Fire Marshal for an origin and cause determination.

The house was occupied at the time the fire was detected, however smoke alarms alerted them in time for them to safely evacuate. The investigation revealed that the fire was caused accidental in nature. Engine 23’s crew used the thermal imager to check for extension in the walls but found nothing. Damages were estimated at about $10,000 to the structure and contents. Units cleared the scene around 2136 hrs.