| On Monday, September 14, 2026, at 2031 hours (8:31pm), Calvert County Dispatch alerted Companies 1 (North Beach), 5 (Dunkirk), 6 (Huntingtown), and Anne Arundel Companies 42 and 9 for a house fire in the 8100 block of Moffat Run. Engine 11, Tower 1 and Chief 1B arrived to find a working fire in the rear of the reported address. Engine 12 arrived shortly after.
Engine 11 laid a 4” supply line from the hydrant at Moffat Run and Mears Bend and proceeded to the rear of the townhouse row to initiate fire attack. The crew advanced a 1 1/2” attack line to extinguish visible fire then entered the townhouse through the garage and advanced upstairs to check for extension. Engine 11’s driver pulled an additional attack line to hold the fire on the exterior in check. Tower 1 positioned on the front of the row and its crew, along with Engine 12’s crew, entered the townhouse from the front to initiate search and check for extension.
Chief 1B established command and directed other companies and personnel to provide additional fire extinguishment, search, and check for extension in adjoining townhouses as fire had extended up the exterior and into the attic. A working fire dispatch was requested. This brought units from Company 2 (Prince Frederick), Company 7 (St. Leonard), and Prince George’s County Engine 820.
Chief 5B (Dunkirk) was assigned as the interior supervisor and directed operations in the main fire building. Chief 6 (Huntingtown) was assigned the delta exposure supervisor. Crews from Companies 5 and 6 advanced additional attack lines to cut off extension, searched for any victims, and checked for extension in adjoining units. Chief 1 and Chief 1A provided command support.
Approximately 65 firefighters were on scene at the height of the fire. The fire was confined mainly to the initial reporting address. Adjoining units suffered some fire, smoke and water damage.
The first fire units arrived within four minutes of dispatch. First water was on the fire within three minutes of arrival. Fire control on all levels and the attic was achieved in 18 minutes.
The homes are equipped with automatic fire sprinklers. Fire sprinklers did activate on the second floor, preventing extension into the upper floor bedroom on the rear of the house.
There were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire was determined to be from a self-installed solar panel system. The Red Cross was called to assist with the displaced occupants from the reporting address and the adjoining addresses on either side.
The North Beach VFD wants to extend a sincere thank you to our response partners and remind everyone to use proper installation and maintenance procedures when installing any electrical equipment.
Picture credit: Tarvae Barnett |
