There were no injuries.
Dickerson, Md (KM). Wednesday was a long day for many fire fighters in the region who spent most of their time putting out a large brush fire on Sugarloaf Mountain.
Units were called out to Mt. Ephraim Road near the Yellow Trail at Sugarloaf at around 7:17 AM for smoke in the area, and found 11-acres of woodland on fire. “It was approximately 50 fire fighters, various different counties, Frederick, Montgomery, Washington and Carroll Counties,” says Kevin Fox, Battalion Chief for Frederick County Fire and Rescue, who was also at the scene.
He says fire fighters were able to contain the fire in two hours. “They recognized that fighting a wildland fire is different than a house fire. So what you do is you take the fuel away, which is remove the leaves and those things that can burn. Crews did do that quickly and put up a fire line, and were able to contain the fire pretty quickly,” says Fox.
“We required specialized vehicles, such as brush units, as well as all terrain vehicles, and utility terrain vehicles which can carry manpower and equipment. Some of them have pump and water capabilities so that they can help get to those extreme areas,” says Fox.
He says the terrain was “treacherous,” and “labor intensive” for crews trying to put out the fire.
Fox says many fire fighters stayed at the scene for most of the day. “The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry personnel remained on the scene. They will be operating up there for the next several days,” says Fox.
He says fire fighters were also dispatched on Monday for a brush fire in that same area of Sugarloaf Mountain. Then it covered five-acres, but it increased to 11-acres by Wednesday morning.
By Kevin McManus