At 0521, Box 9-4 was pre-alerted for the smoke in the house. Units were dispatched to 20212 American Way in Cedar Hills development for smoke in the house. Units responded with Engine 9-1, Chief 9 arriving on the scene first. Chief 9 gave the initial report of light smoke pouring from the eave on side Bravo. Chief 9 investigated and determined a smoldering fire was located in the attic area, likely burning blown insulation, no heat but significant smoke. American Way command was established by Chief 9. Command directed Truck 27 to ladder the roof on the corner of Alpha and Bravo. Crews were also deployed to the attic area to find the fire. A 1 ¾” handline was pulled from Engine 9-1 for the attic crew. Chief 27 assumed Division 1and had command of his crew inside. Chief 7 and his crew controlled the utilities. Ventilation was established to clear the smoke from the remainder of the structure. Truck 27 crew ventilated the eave by removing the eave vent. The attic/attack team quickly found and knocked down the fire. Command was advised the fire was knocked and conveyed the message to Washington County FRC. Division 1 crew began to conduct salvage and overhaul operations. Division 1 crew pulled the ceiling from below the fire area while the attic crew filled salvage buckets with burns insulation. Command determined the cause of the fire to be electrical in nature. A wire appeared to have heated, causing significant charring on the ceiling joist. A U-shaped char pattern was found in the wood, near a light fixture. Command conveyed the information to WCFRC to advise the State FM. The State FM advised that, based on the information given and the belief that it was electrical and accidental, they would not respond. Upon completion of overhaul, Command began placing units in service. Information was gathered and exchanged with the homeowner. Command offered the Red Cross assistance, but the family declined advising they would make their own disposition. Homeowner asked about turning electric back on to the residence. Command advised to make contact with the insurance company prior to turning anything back on. Since the fire was believed to be electrical in nature, the insurance company or a certified electrician should make the determination. Once all equipment was picked up, Command terminated and units went available as they were ready.

Weather – Clear, 11 degrees

Units on scene

• Engine 9-1
• Tanker 9
• Chief 9
• Rescue Engine 27-2
• Truck 27
• Chief 27
• Rescue Engine 7-2
• Engine 7-3
• Chief 7
• Tanker 13
• Chief 13
• Rescue Squad 10
• Medic 75-5

We are very proud for to announce that Deputy Chief Shawn Wieczorek has completing the Hagerstown Fire Department Recruit class # 2 and graduated this evening. He has been assigned to the second Battalion and is going to be stationed at Engine 3. Good Luck

At 1434, Engine Company 9 was alerted for mutual aid to Franklin County, PA, in the Borough of Waynesboro, 82 West Main Street for the apartment building fire. Engine 9-1, Lieutenant 9 responded with 6 personnel and was advised by FRC that they had a working fire. Engine 9-1 switched to Franklin Co. Channel 3 for the operations channel. As the engine approached the scene, command assigned the unit to side Charlie and to have the crew immediately assist the crew from Waynesboro with suppression. A line was pulled from Engine 9-1 to the rear of the structure to support the line already inside. 9-1’s crew made entry and assisted with extinguishment and ventilation of the structure. The fire was knocked down quickly but additional alarms were called due to high heat and humidity with temperatures in the mid 90’s with heat index well over 100 degrees. Initial crews were rotated out through rehab while the fire marshal conducted the investigation. 9-1’s hand line then went to the roof with Truck 27 crew to deploy our Pro-Pak foam unit. Upon completion of the investigation, crews were rotated back in to the structure to assist with salvage and overhaul. Engine 9-1 cleared the scene at approx. 1730 hrs.

At approx. 0700, FRC paged duty 9 to contact communications. Chief 9 answered the page with FRC advising a farmer had called requesting assistance with a cow which fell into a manure pit. Chief 9 obtained the information and made contact with the owner and contacted duty 27 to request assistance with a ladder truck. Chief 9, Brush 9 and Truck 27, Chief 27 went on the air to investigate the situation. All units arrived on the scene with a 1250lb. cow which had fallen into a concrete manure pit. The cow was submerged in about 12” – 18” of product and able to move on her own. A plan was put in place to extend the aerial over the pit/cow and rope the animal from above to direct her to the entrance to the pit, where she could be lifted out with farm equipment. Chief 9 donned the ladder belt and with “lasso” in hand, attempted the maneuver. After about 10 minutes of coaxing the animal, and utilizing Chief’s nationally recognized rodeo skills, the cow was roped and pulled to the entrance. The farmer then lifted the cow out of the pit using a front end loader and "harness".

The cow, after being freed from sure peril, thanked the crews by adding more "product" to the pit and went off to enjoy a fine breakfast of hay. We also heard her bragging to the other cows how she could have gotten out, she just wanted some attention.

Chief 9 advised FRC that the animal had been removed and units were clearing. Nothing like the smell of some Leitersburg “dairy-air”.

Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company to Bolster

Fire Prevention Efforts with FM Global Grant

Hagerstown, Maryland. – The Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company received a $600 fire prevention grant recently from FM Global, a leading property insurer of the world’s largest businesses based in Johnston, R.I.

FM Global representatives presented the award to Chief Kirk Mongan and Treasurer Walter Kipe of the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company at the fire station. The award will be used to assist with fire investigations to help fire investigators more efficiently investigate and determine the cause of a fire by purchasing digital cameras for the fire company.

Because fire continues to be the leading cause of commercial and industrial property damage worldwide, FM Global has contributed millions of dollars to fire services and related agencies around the globe working to prevent fire for more than three decades. Locally, the company has awarded grants to a number of Maryland-based organizations.

"At FM Global, we believe the majority of property damage is preventable—not inevitable—and we are pleased to make funding available to organizations, like the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company, that share the same philosophy," said Michael Spaziani, manager of FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Program. "After all, it’s much better to prevent a disaster than to recover from one."

FM Global’s highly competitive Fire Prevention Grant Program (www.fmglobal.com/grants) awards grants quarterly to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the greatest impact on preventing, preparing for and controlling fire in the community.

More than one out of every three FORTUNE 1000 companies and similar-sized organizations operating in more than 130 countries works with FM Global to develop robust property insurance and engineering solutions to protect their business operations from fire, natural disasters and other types of property risk. Established nearly 175 years ago, FM Global ranks #583 among FORTUNE Magazine’s largest companies in America. The company was recently names "Best Property Insurer in the World" by Euromoney magazine and also is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and AA (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings.

On July 4th at 20:37 box 9-1 was alerted for smoke coming from a house in the 21500 block of Leitersburg/Smithsburg Rd. Deputy Chief responded and was advised by FRC that they received 1 call advising there was smoke coming from the eaves of the house. Engine 92 responded with 2 and arrived on the scene moments later giving a BIR consisting of a 2 story possible double occupancy structure with smoke pushing from the eaves, they established command. Deputy Chief 9 arrived on the scene right after Engine 92 and assumed command after a face to face with the personnel of the engine. Personnel arrived on scene via POV and assisted on the initial attack line. Neighbors advised that there was no body home. Deputy Chief 9 forced the front door to gain access for the entry crew. Command then requested police agency due to forcing entry. When the door was forced the crew found the house charged with heavy smoke. Command was advised by the property owner’s sister that the house was an old log home covered over with siding and other renovations. The entry crew searched the first floor however had issues finding any fire. Chief 79 made a 360 walk around of the house for the IC and advised that there were 2-500lb propane cylinders on the B-C corner of the structure and that he shut them off. He also advised his EMS personnel had set up rehab in the parking lot next to the house. Truck 27 arrived and set up for roof ventilation if needed, they also used the tip lights to illuminate the yard on side C. Chief 27 arrived and went to the rear of the structure and assumed basement division after making entry via the door on side C and finding a deep seated fire in the basement. Command requested the Fire Marshal & the working fire assignment due to the heat and not knowing what extension there was.

Basement Division requested if RIT had been set up, Command was starting that at the time he requested it. Command had given that task to Franklin Co. (Waynesboro) Lt 2-1. After determining that roof ventilation was not needed Captain 27 took a group into the first floor to make some access cuts in the floor of the living room to expose the beams. A crew from engine 7-2 conducted a search of the rest of the structure to ensure there was no extension to the rest of the structure. Basement Division requested that the house get ventilated via negative pressure. Fans were set up on side C for ventilation since the basement access was there. Basement Division soaked the beams down best they could. Command and Basement Division consulted and agreed to overhaul the basement to expose the rest of the joists and beams to ensure there was no extension, upon completion a ProPak was used to soak the beams and floor joist in the basement. The crews waited for the heat to dissipate in the basement and ensured there were no flare ups. Command started releasing units as they were ready. Command met with the FM to discuss the possible cause. The FM showed command the cause which was an old cotton wrapped wire run over a beam that had burn through and smoldered on the beam for some time.

The Home was closed up, windows covered the holes in the floor were covered and the homeowners sister was brought in and shown what happened and what was done. The property was turned over to her and units cleared

Engine Company 9 and Special Operations 20 were alerted for a property damage accident on Watery Lane in the Ringgold area. Engine 9-4, Chief 9 responded with 4 personnel as well as Haz Mat 20 and were advised by FRC that a truck hauling liquid fertilizer had overturned into the stream running parallel to watery lane, unknown leakage of product. Engine 9-4, Chief 9 arrived on the scene to find a 5,400 gallon tanker truck on its side in the stream, investigating. Upon consultation with the driver of the truck, it was discovered that approximately 3,000 gallons of the liquid fertilizer had spilled into the stream as well as oil and hydraulic fluid leaking from the engine compartment of the truck. Chief 9 established command and requested a tactical channel. Lieutenant Jeter from Special Operations arrived on the scene followed by Haz-Mat 20. Crew from Haz-Mat 20 placed pigs downstream from the spill to absorb any oil/hydraulic product that had made it that far. Engine 9-4 crew used the equipment on their rig to contain the continuous hydraulic leak and begin other clean up efforts. Additional pigs were added upstream to contain the oil products and the Maryland Department of Environment was contacted by request of command as a service to advise. The owner of the truck arrived on the scene and began to assess how the removal of the remainder of fertilizer product would be accomplished and truck removal. Truck owner contacted Semler Septic Service to remove the remainder of fertilizer. Representative from the Department of Environment arrived on the scene and consulted with command. As the Environmental representative took readings up and down stream, Semler had arrived to offload the truck tank. The owner advised command he had contacted a crane company to remove the truck, rep. en route at this time. Upon arrival, the crane company rep advised he would be able to hoist the truck but there were issues with an overhead telephone line possibly being in the way. Command notified FRC to contact Verizon about what could be done with the phone line. After a question and answer session between Command and Verizon, Verizon advised to cut the line, if necessary to facilitate removal of the truck. Command then advised the owner of the truck of the situation. Verizon did not advise if there would be a charge or fee if damage to the line was incurred. Command then determined that fire and haz-mat services were no longer needed due to the results of the environmental testing to be negative. Command advised the owner that emergency service units were going to clear the incident scene to make way for the crane operation, which was en route at that time. Chief 9 advised that if there was any additional leakage or new problems arose during the hoist to call 911 and we would return. Command was then terminated and units went in service.

Engine Company 9 along with Special Operations Haz-Mat team was alerted for a tractor trailer accident with fuel spill. Engine 9-4 lieutenant 9 went on scene with a tractor trailer jack knife with saddle tank rupture. Lt. 9 established command and advised incoming units that there was active leaking from saddle tank. Engine 9-1 arrived on scene and handled traffic control, while duty 20 investigated the scene. Haz-mat 20 arrived on scene and pumped the remainder of the fuel from the saddle tank out. The Haz-mat crew along with company 9 crew worked to clean up the spill from the accident. Command advised headquarters that all hazards have been removed from the roadway, Haz-mat 20, engine 9-1 can go in service when ready engine 9-4 will stay on scene till the removal of the vehicle, and that command was terminated. Engine 9-4 remained on scene for additional hour till truck was removed from roadway. Engine 9-4 LT 9 went available.

A total of 2 ½" - 3" of rain fell in the area the last 2 days resulting in flooding throughout the region. Engine Co. 9 crews ran 6 calls today. The morning began with an

• EMS assist, on Clopper Road.
• Water rescue on Leiters Mill Road at the Antietam Creek. Engine 9-1, Engine 9-4 and Chief 9 responded to the location and arrived on the scene to find the victims had self extricated and their vehicle was removed by a large truck. No fire or rescue services were needed and Chief 9 placed all units in service. Assisting Co. 9 were RE 7-2, M79, SO20, Boat 20 and Boat 2.
• Vehicle accident, Fruit Tree Drive. The engine was dispatched to assist Co. 7 on a vehicle accident. The engine was placed in service before arrival.
• Water rescue on Leiters Mill Road at the Antietam Creek. Crews received a report that another vehicle tried to make it through the flooded roadway. Engine 9-4 went on the air to investigate a possible water rescue and arrived to find 1 vehicle in the water with 2 occupants inside. As with the first call, a good Samaritan hooked the car and pulled it and the occupants to safety before the crews could intervene. Again, no fire or rescue services were needed and Chief 9 placed the units in service.
• EMS assist, Little Antietam Road
• Automatic Fire Alarm, Ringgold Church of Christ. The engine company was alerted for the AFA at the church. Engine 9-1, Chief 9 responded with a crew of 5 . Crew arrived on the scene with normal conditions. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that there had been a power outage which tripped the alarm. Once the power restored, the alarm panel cleared. Engine 9-1, Chief 9 went in service shortly after arrival.

At 09:28 hours, Engine Co.9 was alerted with Franklin Rescue Squad 2 and Medic 79 for vehicle accident at the intersection of Rt 64/Rt 418. Engine 94, Lieutenant responded and was advised of accident involving tractor trailer. Lieutenant 9 requested tactical channel. Franklin Squad 2 arrived on scene advising Propane tanker versus blazer. Engine 94 arrived on scene and assisted with patient packaging. Company 79 transported 3 patients to Waynesboro hospital. Units cleared scene at 10:29 hrs.

Units On Scene: E-94, Lt-9 Franklin Co. Squad 2, and 2 units from Co 79

At 10:09 hrs, Engine Co.9, Tanker 9 were alerted on Box 27-7 for reported building fire at Precision Cars on Leitersburg Pike. Chief 27 on scene with multiple vehicles on fire to rear of the building. Engine 9-2 arrived on scene and supplied water to Truck 27. Crew from Engine 92 assisted with fire suppression and overhaul. Tanker 9 arrived on scene and supplied water to Engine 92. Units cleared scene at 10:58.

At 16:59 hrs, Brush 9 was alerted to assist Franklin County Company 4 with a mountain fire on Mentzer Gap Road. The Crew from Brush 9 assisted with fire suppression and overhaul. Brush 9 cleared scene at 19:19 hrs.

At 22:36, Engine Co. 9 along with Rescue Squad 75 and Medic 79 were alerted for vehicle accident at the intersection of Little Antietam Road/Beard Spur Road. Asst. Chief 9 on scene with single vehicle into a tree with an ejection. Paramedic 79-3 transported priority 1 pt to WCH. Co. 9 removed hazards and units cleared at 23:19 hrs

At 17:27 hrs,Engine Co.9 along with Rescue Engine 7-2 and Paramedic 793 were alerted for vehicle accident at the intersection of Ringgold pike and Leitersburg pike. Engine 9-4, Lieutenant 9 arrived on scene reporting 2 vehicle head on accident. After further investigation, Lieutenant 9 reported 2 patients, one still in vehicle with door pop. Engine 9-1 arrived on scene and handled door pop with hand tools. Co. 9 assisted Co. 79 with patient packaging while rescue engine 7-2 handled a spill from one of the vehicles. Units cleared at 18:26 hrs.

At 16:06 hrs, Engine Co. 9 along with Franklin squad 2 and Medic 79 were alerted for vehicle accident on Ringgold Pike in the area of Grove Road. Engine 9-4, lieutenant 9 arrived on scene with 2 vehicle rear end collision with moderate damage to vehicle one. Lieutenant 9 confirmed 5 patients with 2 still in the vehicle but no entrapments. Crew from engine 9-4 assisted paramedic 791 with patient care from vehicle one while ambulance 793 obtained pt refusals from vehicle 2. Franklin Squad 2 assisted with minor fluid spill. Units cleared at 17:19 hrs.

12:17 hrs started the day with a EMS assist call for Engine Co. 9's crew.

Early this morning, the engine company was alerted to assist with a working fire in the Borough of Waynesboro. Engine 9-1 responded with a crew of 5 to the fire at the homeless shelter beside the Waynesboro Fire Department. Engine 9-1 arrived on the scene and personnel immediately reported to the manpower staging area. Crew was quickly deployed to Division 1 to assist with extinguishment and overhaul. Crews pulled walls, ceilings and extinguished remaining fire while salvaging everything possible. Crew then deployed a Pro Pak foam system to overhaul the area. Upon completion of the assignment, the crew reported back to staging and was reassigned to salvage operations in Sub-Division 1, preventing unnecessary water damage to the items below the fire room. Additional personnel were sent back to Division 1 to perform salvage operations. Crews finished up by assisting the Red Cross and other volunteers in removing the food and other salvageable material from the fire area for storage. Engine 9-1 was then placed in service by command.

The Engine Co was alerted for a vehicle fire in a field along Leitersburg Pike. Engine 9-1 responded with 3 and The Deputy Fire Chief was also Responding. Engine 9-1 Arrived and advised FRC that they had a working fire. Crews quickly deployed an 1 1/2 hose line. Due to the heavy involvement of the fire the crew later utilized the ProPak to finish extinguishing the fire.

Photo's taken by Sue Mongan