Photos/Story By Eddie Lehan/Kentland Volunteer Fire Department
On Sunday, November 19, while firefighters were performing a company drill, a passerby stopped in and advised them that "... a house up the street has fire coming from the second floor."
The house bells were rung to alert everyone in the station and Engine 333, Engine 334 and Tower 33 quickly pulled from the station onto Landover Road to see a column of smoke billowing from a home on Prospect Street less than a quarter of a mile from the station.
Units arrived at the two story home with heavy fire from both floors, and Chief 33B notified P.G. Communications to dispatch a street assignment, which brought E33 (Kentland), E30 (Landover Hills), E22 (Cheverly), TK28 (West Lanham), RS08, (Seat Pleasant).
An attack line was quickly extended to the back door while the Tower crew gained entry.
Immediately upon opening the door fire met the firefighters who began to douse fire throughout the first floor.
A second line was advanced to the second floor where fire had extended due to the balloon construction of the 100 year old home.
Units battled the blaze and brought the fire under control in less than 15 minutes.
A special alarm for two additional engines were requested by command which brought E-281 (West Lanham) and E-93 (Bladensburg) these units were used for relief crews.
The next 3 hours were consumed by extensive overhaul.
The fire was determined to be caused by careless smoking.
Incidentally, the house was used by the vagrant population in the area for shelter and was scheduled to be demolished within days.
No civilians or firefighters were injured in the fire.
