News

House Fire With Entrapment - 10614 Flower Street
Friday, October 9, 2009

At 2245 hours on Friday, October 9, 2009, the Berlin Fire Company, along with a tanker from Showell, were dispatched to the area of Flower Street and Honeysuckle Lane for a reported house on fire. Captain Eric Budd arrived to find a 1 1/2 story split level house with smoke showing from sides A, B and D, and established Flower Street Command. Prior to the arrival of the first-due engine, Worcester Central advised that Berlin Police Department was on location reporting a subject trapped inside the residence. Command confirmed with police department representatives along with family and friends that someone was still trapped inside the building. Chief Derrick Simpson requested an additional engine to the scene for R.I.T. operations. Just prior to the arrival of Engine 604, fire began to vent out of kitchen windows on the "A" side of the building. The crew of Engine 604, led by FF/EMT-B David Lewis, advanced the 150 foot 1 3/4" preconnected bumper line through the front door. Firefighters Austin Purnell and Adam Tinnell advanced the handline into the kitchen and extinguished the fire. After extinguishing most of the fire, they quickly turned their efforts to searching for the trapped victim. At the same time a separate search crew entered the building, consisting of Chief Simpson and Assistant Chief Engineer Bill Scott. Shortly after entering the building, Chief Simpson advised that he had located the trapped victim in a bedroom on the C/D corner of the house and was requesting EMS to the front door. Chief Simpson, Assistant Chief Engineer Scott, and the crew of Engine 604 worked together to remove the victim from the smoke-filled structure to awaiting EMS in the front yard. The patient was quickly moved to the ambulance where EMS was able to regain a pulse and respirations. The patient was transported to Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. The crew of Engine 604 returned to the building and completed the primary search of the structure to ensure only one victim was trapped, as well as complete extinguishing the fire. Ocean Pines Engine 1102 arrived and assumed the R.I.T. responsibilities. Tower 6 laddered side A of the building and ventilated the roof. Ocean City responded with an engine and rescue to the scene to fill the remainder of the first alarm assignment. Crews brought the fire under control a short time later. Deputy Fire Marshal Matt Owens of the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office completed an extensive investigation before crews were able to complete salvage and overhaul of the building. Command was terminated and crews returned to service around 0145 hours. A great job was done by all on the scene. Thanks to the quick actions of the officers and members of the Berlin Fire Company, along with the Berlin Police Deparment and Worcester County Sheriff's Office, the victim was removed from the building. The latest report was that the victim was unconscious but still alive and was to be transported to University Hospital in Baltimore for further treatment. Thanks to everyone for a job well done!!