Brush Fire Along Railroad Tracks Draws Multi-County Response

Fountaindale, Pa. — November 3 — Multiple fire crews from Pennsylvania and Maryland put out a brush fire on the tracks near Iron Springs Road in the Fountaindale section of Adams County. 

The call was sent at Box 3-7 around 12:19 p.m. Brush Truck 2 and Special Unit 2 were dispatched by Fairfield Fire & EMS Company 2. Crews found difficult access in mountainous terrain near railroad tracks and a train tunnel on Jacks Mountain. 

Fairfield officers came from a wooded hill above the fire near Scotch Trail. Firefighters near the tracks met incoming crews a few hundred feet away from the engine. Brush units, utility vehicles and hose lines were used by crews to reach and support operations in the difficult terrain. The response team included Fountaindale Volunteer Fire Department, Blue Ridge Summit Fire Department, Barlow Fire Department and Emmitsburg Fire Department. Thurmont Community Ambulance Service also provided a response. Based on the initial incident information, extra forestry units offered assistance. 

The fire was modest, yet its position and restricted access forced crews to work from various spots on the mountain. Firefighters stayed at the location for about three hours. Company 2 returned to service at approximately 2:55 p.m., Fairfield Fire & EMS reported. 

The response combined fire and forestry assets from various jurisdictions to address a brush fire in a region where terrain posed a significant access issue.