At 1810 hours on Tuesday, June 25th, Calvert County Emergency Communications Center sounded Area Box 106 for a reported structure fire in the 4000 blk of Sea Gate Square, Chesapeake Beach.

Units from North Beach, Dunkirk, Huntingtown, Anne Arundel companies 42 (Deale) and 9 (Lothian) were dispatched.

Engine 11 arrived first and reported a middle of the row townhome with nothing showing. Upon investigation, the crew found that a single automatic fire sprinkler head had activated, extinguishing a fire on the stove. Co. 1 shut off the water, checked for extension (none found), and placed the rest of the assignment in service.

Damage was confined to the stove top, hood, and ceiling, along with minor smoke damage to the kitchen area.

Had it not been for the automatic fire sprinkler, the fire would have been much worse.

Your NBVFD reminds you to not leave cooking unattended, and encourages you to consider retrofitting your home with automatic fire sprinklers when major renovations are undertaken.