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A beautiful Monday in Smithsburg quickly turned to havoc as sounds of fire and EMS units filled the air that afternoon. Washington County Dispatchers on the evening shift were just settling in after shift change as the first call came in shortly after 4 o’clock on June 2, 2008. Reports of a garage fire in the Whispering Hills area of Smithsburg was reported by the residents. The dispatcher taking the call was told the fire was spreading into the attached residence.

Emergency crews were dispatched out for the Garage Fire at 16:10 hours. After dispatch additional calls kept coming in from neighbors reporting the house on fire. Before arrival of the first engine, dispatch initiated the “Working Fire Assignment” bringing additional help as well as the Air Unit, Rehab Unit and EMS to the incident. Deputy Chief Jon Snyder of Smithsburg EMS was the first to arrive at 100 Rachels Court to find heavy fire. Chief Snyder reported “two story structure with fire showing on the 1st & 2nd floor on sides A & B”.

Firefighters approaching the scene could see the heavy smoke from miles away. Firefighter Fishack on Rescue Engine 72 from Smithsburg arrived and assumed Rachels Court Command. As flames were showing through the roof, crews began an exterior attack to gain control of the blaze. Command began requesting transfer crews in place to the scene to assist with manpower.

Firefighters on the scene were faced with heavy fire load along with temperatures in the 80’s accompanied by the humidity. Smithsburg EMS worked with the rehab unit 255 to set up a cool down area where firefighters battling the blaze could use damp ice-cold towels along with ice-cold beverages to help them cool down and rehydrate during the incident. Firefighters were still battling the blaze 45 minutes in to the incident when Command reported they still had fire on sides A & B. He was able to advise the fire was 75% contained and crews were working with a partial collapse on the second floor over the garage area. With the partial collapse, operations on the second floor above the garage were deemed unsafe. From there they began Ladder Pipe operations from Waynesboro Tower 2 to knock down the remaining fire on Sides A & B. With in 40 minutes Command reported Fire Knocked Down at 17:50 hours.

Once fire was knocked down, State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst (FM26) was able to enter the residence to begin his investigation. Fire crews on the scene worked for several hours conducting overhaul operations as well as assisting FM26 with his investigation as needed. The fire is believed to have started in the garage area causing up to $145,000 dollars in damage. The mother and three children at home at the time were able to escape from the blaze with out injury. The Fire Marshals Office is still investigating the cause of the fire. A majority of the units were released as Command was terminated at 19:18 hours. Smithsburg Fire Co.7 remained on the scene for an additional hour to assist the Fire Marshals Office as needed.

Smithsburg Fire Co.7 responded to the fire with assistance from Leitersburg Co.9, Mt. Aetna Fire Co.16, Wolfsville Fire Co.21, Waynesboro Fire Co.2, Long Meadow Fire Co.27, Smithsburg EMS Co.79, Emergency Air Unit 25, Rehab Unit 255 and State FM26. While crews were committed to the incident, Transfer crews from Maugansville Fire Co.13, Hagerstown Engine 3 and Community Rescue Co.75 filled in at Companies 7, 9 and 79 to cover the area during the four-hour incident.