Dayhoff Westminster: Early morning Westminster fire sends two the hospital four rescued

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Early morning Westminster fire sends two the hospital four rescued

By Kevin Dayhoff July 12, 2009

Shortly after 3 AM, Westminster city police responded to reports of an apartment fire at 500 Robin’s Way. Officers quickly went from door-to-door in the apartment complex, pounding on doors to awaken residents and help evacuate the building.

Units of the Westminster fire department responded shortly after the initial alarm was sounded at 3:07 am and found heavy fire in the second floor apartment that was spreading rapidly to the third floor.

Fire fighters from the Reese fire department quickly responded to the back of the building where there were reports that people were trapped and rescued four out the upper story windows.

Two people were subsequently taken to Carroll Hospital Center for smoke inhalation and exposure and were later released. Two others refused treatment.

A second alarm was sounded at 3:14 am, followed quickly by a third alarm, as firefighters from Reese, Pleasant Valley, New Windsor, Hampstead, Taneytown, Lineboro, Union Bridge, and Manchester responded to the fire that affected a total of twelve families from the fourteen apartment units that were damaged. Two of the apartments were unoccupied at the time.

Over 80 firefighters with 27 fire-fighting pieces of equipment contained the fire by 3:24 am and the fire was declared under control by 3:44 am; however firefighters remained on the scene until approximately 8:45 in the morning.

No firefighters were hurt.

Westminster police officers and the Maryland State Fire Marshall’s office remained on the scene for several more hours. The fire is under investigation by the Westminster Police and the Fire Marshall’s office.