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| By Bill Eichelberger Photographer |
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| By Bill Eichelberger Photographer |
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| By Bill Eichelberger Photographer |
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Smithsburg, MD - August 22, 2006, State Fire Marshals return to the scene of a two alarm blaze Tuesday to continue their investigation into what caused a the inferno at a storage building Friday night in Smithsburg. Emergency crews were alerted Friday night at 23:33 hours on August 18th for a reported barn fire in the area of Fruit Tree Drive & Greensburg Road near Smithsburg.
Washington County dispatch took several calls reporting the blaze which was able to be seen by MSP Trooper 3 who was lifting off from the Hospital in Hagerstown. Assistant Chief Ginn of Company 7 immediately requested the Working Fire Assignment due to the reports coming into dispatch reporting the blaze.
Assistant Chief Ginn arrived on scene at 12901 Greensburg Road shortly after dispatch to find a building approximately 300 x 600 feet fully involved. Assistant Chief Ginn immediately assumed Greensburg Command and requested the second alarm struck on the assignment. Crews arriving were in defensive mode throughout the incident trying to get the fire under control and protect surrounding exposures.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly four hours before gaining some control over the incident. Over 75 firefighter from companies as far away as Carroll County Maryland responded to assist on the blaze.
Hours into the fire, Command used out-of-county units to respond in to relieve local units that had been working to control the blaze for hours. Mason-Dixon Fire Equipment in Williamsport Maryland also responded to the scene at Command’s request to supply crews with fifty gallons of knock down foam needed on the fire ground.
Smithsburg units remained on the scene through out the day Saturday protecting exposures and keeping the burning debris from spreading.
Fire marshal Ed Ernst "FM26" advised the fire is still under investigation at this time. Callers reporting the blaze Friday reported hearing explosions from the area of the blaze. It is unknown if this was a result of the fire or the cause. No injuries were reported during the incident and the loss from the fire is currently estimated at $800,000 dollars.
Smithsburg Fire Co.7 was assisted by Smithsburg EMS Co.79, Leitersburg Fire Co.9, Waynesboro Fire Co.2, Mt Aetna Fire Co.16, Blue Ridge Summit Fire Co.4, Wolfsville Fire Co.21, Maugansville Fire Co.13, Longmeadow Fire Co.27, Thurmont Fire Co.10, HFD Pioneer Hook & Ladder Truck 1, Boonsboro Fire Co.6, Greencastle Fire Co.3, Mont Alto Fire Co.5, Funkstown Fire Co.10, Halfway Fire Co.26, Myersville Fire Co.8, Marion Fire Co.8, Mercersburg Fire Co.9, Middletown Fire Co.7, Libertytown Fire Co.17, Adams County Fire Co.2, Carroll Manor Fire Co.14, Independent Hose Fire Co.1, Washington County Emergency Services Air Unit, Special Operations 20, Rehab Unit 255, and Deputy Director Kevin Lewis "1802".
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