Shortly after 5pm on Wednesday, January 13, Engine 801 was alerted on the Task Force alarm for the apartment fire at 9205 New Hampshire Avenue in Co. 34’s area, Chillum-Adelphi. First-arriving units encountered fire conditions on the top floor and the response eventually rose to a second alarm.
Engine 801 arrived and was initially assigned Rapid Intervention before quickly being assigned to the interior, bringing a handline to the top floor to assist units attacking the fire. Command briefly pulled units back out as fire conditions worsened and master streams knocked down the largest volume of fire. Crews then went in back into the fire apartment and floor.
The engine crew forced multiple doors on the top floor and searched apartments adjacent to and across the hall from the primary fire apartment. After finding searches negative, the engine company’s line was taken into the delta side exposure and crews began opening up, finding fire conditions in the ceiling which were knocked down. Truck 9’s crew assisted in this effort.
HVFD Chief 1, Hang, was on the scene at the command post with Chief 34 and Chief 1B, Smolinsky, relieved Chief 12 as Division 4. HVFD crews cleared at about 7:45 p.m.
The building was four stories in the front and six in the rear, with a center hallway and flat roof.
Units from Prince George’s and Montgomery counties responded, a partial rundown includes:
- First Alarm: PE712, PE716, PE844, E702, TK834, TK716, TK719
- WFD, Task Force & Second Alarms: E701, E801, E811, E807, PE841, E855, PE830, TK812, TK831, TK814, TK809 + Numerous EMS units and Chief Officers
Additional Details Via Prince George’s County Fire/EMS
Two occupants next to the apartment of origin had tried to escape through the hallway but were driven back into their condo due to the intense heat and smoke. They retreated to their balcony where they were rescued by firefighters from the Chillum-Adelphi Fire/EMS Station 834 using their extended ladder from Truck 834 to reach and rescue the two trapped occupants.
An open hallway door of the apartment of origin created a flow patch that generated intense flames and extension of the fire into the main hallway. The fire also quickly extended into the flat roof structure.
Firefighters attempted entry onto the 4th floor hallway but were pulled back to the safety of the stairwell as a deck gun was used to knock down a bulk of the fire from the exterior. Firefighters re-entered the 4th floor to conduct searches and extinguish the fire. It required 30 minutes to extinguish the bulk of the fire with another 20 minutes to complexity extinguish the fire.
In addition to the 2 occupants rescued by Truck 834 another occupant was ushered off of the third floor by firefighters from Branchville. This occupancy dropped from a 4th floor balcony to the third floor and was assisted out through the main stairwell. He was evaluated by medics but did not appear to be injured.
Two occupants i n the apartment of origin sustained burn injuries and were transported to a Burn Unit. They were in good condition and expected to be treated and released.
The incident did escalate to 2 alarms which sent over 25 fire/EMS and support vehicles to the scene. There were about 90 Prince George’s and Montgomery County firefighters and EMS personnel on the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. At this point in the investigation nothing has been found out of the ordinary or suspicious. Fire loss is estimated at $200,000.
There are 40 condo units in the building. All 40 units, 101 residents, were displaced with many making their own arrangements. Four units, 10 residents, required assistance from the American Red Cross with temporary shelter.
There were a total of two civilian and three firefighter burn injuries. All were treated and released.
