Story/Photos By Adam Raabe
On September 26th, 2001 Maryland firefighters responded to a warehouse fire.
Engine 382 arrived on the scene with fire in a 400 by 200 foot warehouse with numerous exposures, and immediately requested a second alarm.
Engine 83 arrived on the scene and picked up 382's line on Addison Rd and supplied them water.
The crews from 8, 33 and 38 advanced attack lines into the building.
Heavy smoke conditions were present throughout the building, and as heavy fire vented further into the building, conditions quickly started deteriorating and the order was given to evacuate.
All crews were pulled out and minutes after exiting the building the roof collapsed.
Ladder pipe and Tower operations were then set up for the duration, and a third alarm was ordered.
Engine 83, Chief 8B, Rescue Squad 2 and Chief 2B were then assigned to exposure building 2 to stop fire spread in that building.
They advanced a line into exposure two and encountered heavy smoke and heat conditions on the second floor.
The line was put in position but could not be utilized due to water supply problems outside.
As the crews waited for water, conditions quickly deteriorated there, and the smoke and heat banked down on them causing them to retreat due to lack of water.
The water supply problem was fixed and the same crews from 8 and 2 advanced a 3 inch line with a deluge gun on the end and started attacking the fire in combination with a truck company opening the roof above them.
Rescue Squad 1 and Engine 30 also assisted with this task.
The fire was stopped there at the exposure.
During parts of the incident, over 180 firefighters were on scene.
The cause is still unknown.
