This afternoon shortly after lunch Box 42-14 was dispatched for the House Fire at 5800 Little Road, in Lothian Md. This alerted Chief 5A (E.Holzberger), Engine 52 (Lt. S. Allen), Engine 51 (Sgt. Skaggs) which was clearing a medical local in North Beach, and Tanker 5 (F. Holzberger) to the call with a total of 9 men. Engine 52, AACo.Engine 9, and AACo 42 all arrived within seconds of one another to find a 2 story single family dwelling/ordinary construction with smoke and fire showing from the first floor on Side A. The Lieutenant from Dunkirk was assigned Division 1, and the crew from Engine 52, stretched the 200’ 1 ¾” attack line from Engine 9, and mounted an aggressive interior attack. As the crew made their push in the front of the house they were met with high heat and zero visibility. The lineman located the seat of the fire on Division 1 and knocked down the same as the remaining crew members conducted a primary search of the fire room. The crews operating on Division 1 noticed that the heat was not dissipating despite all visible fire being knocked down.   At this time the crew from Engine 52 regrouped and exited the house to exchange air cylinders. As the crew was exiting the house heavy fire conditions in the basement were noticed. Engine 51 arrived on location and took over Division 1 and made entry into the house along with firefighters from Engine 9 and 42. The crews entered the home in an attempt to locate the basement stairs to prevent further spread of the blaze on Division 1, however as the crew entered the house approximately 3-5 feet, the floor collapsed sending all 5 firefighters tumbling into the basement where heavy fire conditions were present. A MAYDAY was sounded for firefighters trapped in the basement by Engine 51(Sgt.Skaggs). As the crew regrouped in the basement the Lineman from Engine 51 was able to put the attack line back in service to prevent direct flame impingement on the trapped crew. Witnessing this event unfold, two off-duty DC Firemen (Tech K. Boswell and FF J. Bolton that live nearby), along with P.G.Chief 820A (T.Clark), the crew from Engines 52, and P.G.Engine 845,(R.I.T.) without hesitation of the fire conditions now present, immediately deployed ground ladders through the front door and window to allow a means of egress for the firefighters in the basement. All firefighters were able to ascend the ladders to safety in the front yard, and were turned over to awaiting EMS units on scene for evaluation. Three of the five Firefighters were treated and released on scene, the Firefighter from Anne Arundel (also a Calvert County Volunteer) was transported to MEDSTAR for facial injuries, broken ribs, and smoke inhalation. The Firefighter from Dunkirk was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital for minor smoke inhalation, lacerations, and neck and back injuries. The remaining Dunkirk Volunteers on scene along with other units operated until 1800 hours due to extensive overhaul operations. Both Firemen are believed to be released from the hospital today.
 
The Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Firefighters involved in the rescue of our men, along with the Firefighters from Anne Arundel County. Your selfless acts most definitely prevented a tragedy from occurring.
 
Command: Battalion Chief 3 (Parks) Division 1:Lieutenant 5
(S. Allen/C.Sines)
 
Story by Fire Chief Toby Sealey
Special thanks to www.firefighterclosecalls.com , FF Jesse Bolton(DCFD)and Fox 5 for the use of their pictures.