BCCRS Units Respond to an Afternoon House Fire in Chevy Chase

May 1 –  Engine 707 from Chevy Chase was first on scene to a house fire on Edgevale Court and reported smoke showing from side A of a one-story single family residence.  They found a bedroom in the A/D quadrant of the house fully involved and the remainder of the house fully charged with smoke.
Rescue Squad 741’s crew entered through the garage door on the A/B corner of the house, opposite the fire, along with the first due engine.  They encountered significant heat, clutter, and limited visibility as they worked their way across the house to the bedroom.  As windows were broken out, the increased ventilation allowed fire to begin rolling out of the bedroom door along the ceiling over their heads.  The crew conducted a primary search and fortunately found no one in the house.  They then forced open the front door from the inside, enabling a second hose line to enter the house close to the seat of the fire.  As the bulk of the fire was knocked down, the crew assisted with pulling walls and ceilings to make sure there was no additional fire spread.  There was considerable smoke in the unfinished attic, but no extension of the fire.

Both Ambulance 741 Bravo and Medic 741 Charlie from the Rescue Squad also responded to the house fire and established a rehabilitation station for the firefighters.  This was an especially important function due to the hot and humid weather conditions.  Units also responded from Bethesda, Silver Spring, the National Naval Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health, and Walter Reed Hospital Annex in Forest Glen.  Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Chief 702 operated as incident commander.  Canteen 705 from Kensington provided support for the rehab station.

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