Units Respond for Inside Gas Leak & Hot Air Balloon Emergency

 
By Sergeant Matthew Thews
August 6, 2012
 

On the evening of Monday August 6, 2012 at 1915 hours company 33 and 15 units were alerted for a reported person having a syncopal episode in a hot air balloon. The balloon had landed in a field at a farm along Ijamsville Road. U15(Sgt. Thews) responded with four volunteers on the call. Company 33 units arrived to find the balloon out in the field and were able to make access to the patient, who refused care. U15 went in service a few minutes later.

U15 had just cleared the call when RE153 came across the air stating that they had received a call at the station for a reported inside gas leak on Accipiter Drive in Lake Linganore Aspen. RE153(Lt. Laird), ET154(Sgt. Conaway), A158(C. Hannaby), and U15(Sgt. Thews) responded with 15 personnel on the call. RE153 arrived first to find nothing evidnet from the single story wood frame house and reverse layed from the end of the driveway to a hydrant about 300' away. ET154 took a position on side A and the crew of 5 advanced a crosslay to the front door. U15 arrived and Capt Lawson established the Accipiter Drive Command. Crews investigated an odor of natural gas inside but were unable to locate a source. Command released E111 and TR42, utilities were secured, and units picked up. All units were clear by 2100 hours.

 
Units: RE153, ET154, A158, U15
 
Mutual Aid: E331, E111, TR42, A339