| Chief Tim Warner, Deputy Chief Chip Stevens, Deputy Chief Chad Barrick, Lt. Steven Schultz, Lt. Tim Slane, FF Thomas Hipkins and FF Aaron Waltz were recognized by the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services recently.
On the afternoon of July 5, 2010, Engine Tanker 172 from Libertytown was dispatched to Black Ankle Road for a barn fully involved in fire, threatening to spread to several outbuildings and an occupied house. Upon arrival, they started up the driveway, where they were met by several onlookers who were running down the driveway towards them. The firefighters were told that the male occupant of the house had a gun and was threatening to shoot anyone that approached. One of the onlookers reported that shots had already been fired. In their current position in the driveway, they could either slowly back the engine tanker, which would have exposed them for a longer period of time as a target for the man with the gun, or they could continue forward toward the structures. At this point, it occurred to the firefighters that the structure fires may have been deliberately set, with the possibility of victim entrapment, so they chose to continue forward. They relayed this information to Emergency Communications so that additional units arriving on the scene would be aware of the reported gunman.
What the crew found was a large barn with an attached garage and workshop, fully involved in fire. A brush fire was also burning across the open areas between the involved structures, threatening to ignite a wooded area. The ranch style home on the property was also showing heavy smoke and blackened windows. The buildings all were located approximately 1,000 to 1,200 feet off the roadway up a steep hill.
Two fuel cans were found on the front porch of the house, so there was concern that there may be occupants inside. There was fire in the kitchen, and firefighters coordinated their efforts to search the rest of the house for any occupants. As firefighters attacked the fire with water, one of them crawled into each room to conduct a rapid primary search. Thankfully, there were no occupants in any of the buildings. The firefighters were later informed that the gunman took his own life at some point during the initial moments of their arrival.
The initial firefighters on the scene who encountered a dangerous situation were faced with making a touch decision - to proceed to the structures that were on fire with possible occupant entrapment, or to retreat and wait for law enforcement. For their bravery in putting themselves in harm's way, this crew is being recognized with a Unit Citation.
Chief Thomas Owens |
