With a few rescue squads out of service on the southside of the county, Rescue Squad 14R relocated to Station 27 (Morningside) for the night to ensure there was ample squad coverage for the county.  At the same time, Station 14 remained staffed with a crew for the truck or rescue squad.

Soon after Rescue Squad 14R relocated to the southside, Box 42-13 was dispatched to the 1400 block of Southern Avenue, which is located on the PG and DC border, for the apartment fire.  First arriving units reported they had a working fire.  Rescue Squad 14R arrived, completed a search of the apartment building with negative results, and formed the RIT.  The fire was quickly knocked down and Rescue Squad 14R was ready for service at 1731 hours.

Just following the working fire on the southside which Rescue Squad 14R ran, Truck 14 was alerted at 1757 hours as the first-due truck to the 5400 block of Kenilworth Terrace for the apartment fire.  First arriving units marked on scene with smoke showing.  Truck 14 arrived, threw ladders, and entered the building through a second floor balcony.  The truck searched and found three occupants in an exposure apartment on the fire floor.  With heavy smoke conditions present, the occupants were sheltered in place on a rear balcony until the smoke was completely ventilated, and they were assisted down a ground ladder.  The fire was quickly confined to a kitchen and Truck 14 was ready at 1842 hours.

For the night, Rescue Squad 14R ran 5 calls, and the truck and squad running out of Station 14 ran 4 calls.

Map showing the location of the two fires, Station 14 (Berwyn Heights) and Station 27 (Morningside).

Photos courtesy of West Lanham Hills VFD.