As severe thunderstorms moved through our county last evening, volunteer Fire and EMS stations sprang into action, preparing for the worst. Staffing levels were increased, and all emergency apparatus was checked and placed in service. Many stations staffed every available unit, contributing thousands of combined volunteer hours to ensure our communities remained protected.

Beginning around 5:30 PM and continuing well past midnight, Fire/EMS personnel responded to a high volume of emergency calls. The severe weather brought heavy rain, dangerous lightning, and rapidly changing conditions. Calls for service included automatic fire alarms, ambulance assists, flooded roadways, smoke investigations, three working structure fires, and numerous vehicle collisions.

Lightning caused multiple significant incidents throughout the region. In one case, a three-story apartment building suffered a roof strike, resulting in a fire response. In La Plata, a lightning strike caused a kitchen stove to short circuit. In Dentsville, lightning struck a residence and disabled the home’s fire alarm panel.

The dedication and swift action of our volunteer Fire/EMS personnel ensured rapid response and mitigation of all emergencies during this intense weather event. We thank every member who answered the call and stood ready to serve.