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Fire at a Calverton Nursing Home
By Life Member Jim Davis
February 19, 2010
Shortly after 8:30 PM, Thursday February 18, 2010, Engine 811 with a crew of five volunteers was dispatched with other units from the Sixth Battalion and units from Montgomery County Fire Department for a reported deck on fire with people trapped inside a dwelling at the Paint Branch Nursing Home in the 3100 block of Powder Mill Road in Calverton.
Engine 841, the first arriving unit, reported a deck on fire with the possibility of extension into a two-story nursing facility. Chief 811 arrived behind Engine 841 and Truck 712 from Montgomery County and assumed the Paint Branch Command.
This structure had a very long driveway with little to no access for fire apparatus. The only units that were able to make it to the building were the first engine and 1st and 2nd truck. All the other units had to park on Powder Mill Rd and walk up the long driveway.
As one team of firefighters was making an aggressive attack on the fire, Engine 811's crew entered the building and encountered moderate smoke conditions as they were removing the residents from the residential side of the building which was located near the deck area.
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the fire under control with only minor extension to the building.
Firefighters from Engine 811 assisted several residents from the building and pulled a second line to the second floor.
Nine people were removed from the building and treated by EMT's and paramedics; only one of the nine people treated was transported to a local hospital suffering from an undetermined illness. Also a Montgomery County firefighter was transported to a local hospital for a back injury.
Fire Investigators from Prince George County Fire Department believe the cause of the fire was an improperly discarded cigarette and the fire loss is estimated at $ 10.000.00
