Early morning two-alarm fire injures one fire fighter
Saturday morning – April 18, 2020 by Kevin Dayhoff
Westminster Fire Department PIO and Chaplain.
An early morning two-alarm fire in a commercial building in
the 1000 block of Baltimore Blvd. – Rte 140, injured one firefighter. The first
call came in to the Emergency Communications Center at 2:18 a.m., for a report
smoke coming from the side of building and fire being observed.
Units from Reese and Westminster fire departments were first
on the scene in a steady light rain – with Reese taking command. Upon arrival
firefighters preliminarily found a fire perhaps coming from the basement of the
one-story commercial building. The building is reported to be under renovation.
Perhaps as many as 50-75 firefighters responded from Carroll
County and Baltimore County. The fire was determined to be under control at
3:57 a.m. Although units remained on scene until 5 a.m. for clean-up and the
help the fire marshal’s investigation. Preliminary observations indicate
extensive damage to the interior of the building.
Baltimore Gas and Electric, the Maryland State Police, and
the State Highway Administration also responded.
One 45-year-old volunteer firefighter with 25-years’
experience was injured fighting the fire. He was transported to Shock Trauma.
According to a release by the Office of the Maryland State
Fire Marshal, “A Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company (firefighter) sustained
minor injuries after falling through the floor.”
By mid-day on Saturday, the Reisterstown Fire Department
released a statement on the department website that said, “The injured
firefighter is home recovering from minor injuries. We would like to thank
everyone who has reached out to check on the firefighter.”
In a phone interview later in the afternoon, Reisterstown
Fire Chief Craig Hewitt said that the firefighter, “was released from Shock
Trauma this morning after some tests and observation. He has returned home and
is recuperating from minor injuries. He is in good spirits. He is expected to
recover and be back to work soon.”
The fire remains under investigation by the Maryland State
Fire Marshal’s Office.
Reese fire department PIO Robin Stansbury contributed to
this story.
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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.
