A Martinsburg, W.Va., man
died Saturday night after he was struck by two
vehicles while walking near the fast lane of
Interstate 70, south of Hagerstown, Maryland
State Police and family members said. The first
vehicle to hit James Lloyd Weatherholtz, 20,
continued west on I-70 without stopping, state
police said. The incident occurred shortly
before 11 p.m. Saturday near the Sharpsburg Pike
exit.
Anyone who might have
witnessed the incident or who has any
information about the first vehicle to hit
Weatherholtz may call Trooper 1st Class R.
Shaffer with Maryland State Police at
301-739-2102.
Weatherholtz had been
involved in an argument while driving west on
I-70 before the Sharpsburg Pike exit, according
to the state police’s preliminary investigation.
He pulled the vehicle to the shoulder of the
road and got out, then started walking down the
shoulder between the interstate and the median,
police said. Police said witnesses reported
Weatherholtz was walking on the yellow line
separating the shoulder of the highway from the
fast lane when he was struck by an unknown
vehicle.
Weatherholtz was then struck
by a second vehicle, a 1998 Chevy Venture
minivan driven by Milagro Cordero of New Jersey,
police said. Emergency medical service and fire
crews were called to the scene, but Weatherholtz
did not survive, police said. All lanes of
westbound I-70, east of the Sharpsburg Pike
exit, were closed for about two hours during the
investigation, police said.
Ten Hose Responds To
3 Alarm Blaze In Clear Spring......
Washington
County- On July 29th, Washington County E.C.C. received reports
of a fire in a vacant building at 113 Cumberland Street in Clear
Spring. Emergency crews on Box 4-7 were immediately dispatched
out for a building fire at 17:41 hours that evening. Ambulance
49-1 from Clear Spring EMS was the first unit on the scene and
reported smoke showing with a working situation.
Chief Mike Reid of Clear Spring Company 4 arrived as heavy black
smoke billowed from the structure involved. Chief Reid
immediately assumed Cumberland Street Command and requested the
2nd Alarm. Arriving crews attempted an interior attack as the
fire quickly spread to the surrounding houses. Firefighters were
forced to evacuate the structure due to the heavy fire load
involved. Command had the EVAC Tone broadcast and the building
cleared at 18:27 when crews went into defensive operations.
Firefighters
worked to battle the blaze from the exterior with Ladder Pipe
operations from three ladder trucks along with hand lines to
gain control. As firefighters battled the blaze, Command called
in for a 3rd Alarm to assist with manpower due to the extensive
operations. Command reported progress shortly after 20:00 hours
when he advised the E.C.C. that the fire was contained. Crews
were then able to conduct limited interior operations to get the
fire knocked down.
The
bulk of the fire was knocked down by 21:02 hours that night.
Firefighters were able to downgrade operations and began
releasing some of the units brought in on the 3rd alarm. The
fire heavily damaged three homes. Two of the homes were known as
the Clear Spring Hotel constructed back in the early 1800’s
which was also well known as the Overbrook Hotel. All three
homes at 111, 113, and 115 Cumberland Street were vacant at the
time of the fire. A fourth home at 117 Cumberland Street
received some smoke damage and the American Red Cross out of
Hagerstown was called in to assist the family at that location.
Over 100 Fire & EMS personnel from over 21 different departments
responded out that evening to assist Clear Spring. Firefighters
remained on the scene until the early hours of the next day
overhauling remnants of the three buildings heavily damaged.
Final crews from Clear Spring cleared the scene around 03:00
hours.
Crews returned the next morning with the State FM’s office to
extinguish small hot spots found and remained on the scene with
the State FM’s to assist them as needed. State Fire Marshal Ed
Ernst “FM26” is heading up the investigation as to what caused
the blaze. The only thing known at this time is that the blaze
appears to have started in one of the vacant homes. The State
FM’s investigation is still ongoing at this time.
Agencies called in to assist Clear Spring Fire Co.4 on the
incident consisted of Williamsport Fire &EMS Co.2, Maugansville
Fire Co.13, Hancock Fire Co.5, Halfway Fire & EMS Co.26,
Mercersburg Fire Co.9, Funkstown Fire Co.10, HFD Western
Enterprise Engine 4 & Truck 4, Longmeadow Fire Co.27, Fairplay
Fire Co.12, Berkley Springs Co.1, Sharpsburg Fire Co.1,
Boonsboro Fire Co.6, Greencastle Fire Co.3, Clear Spring EMS
Co.49, Hancock EMS Co.59, CRS Maugansville Medic 759, Washington
County Special Operations 20, Washington County Emergency Air
Unit 25, Emergency Rehab Unit 255, Division Fire and Emergency
Services Director Lewis “1801”, State Fire Marshal’s Office,
Hagerstown Police Command Unit, Maryland State Police, Maryland
State Roads, Washington County Fire Police, Hagerstown Special
Police, Allegheny Power, and the Hagerstown Chapter of the
American Red Cross.
Story By William C. King of 1strespondernews.com
Photos By
Michael Main & James Maynard of WCVFRA-PT
Ten Hose Responds To
2 Alarm Blaze In Hagerstown......
Washington
County- On July 16th, Washington County E.C.C. took a call for a
kitchen fire on George Street in the west end section of
Hagerstown. Crews were quickly dispatched out at 08:53 hours
that morning. Within minutes after dispatch, Safety 3 “Adam
Hopkins” of the Hagerstown Fire Department arrived to find heavy
smoke billowing from the house. Upon Safety 3’s arrival he
reported flames showing to dispatch. Captain 32 “Russ Grimm”
immediately requested all remaining HFD units started along with
the Working Fire Assignment as he arrived and assumed George
Street Command.
Captain
Grimm quickly evaluated the deteriorating conditions and
requested the second alarm struck. Firefighters attempted an
interior attack on the house but were quickly pushed out by the
heavy amount of fire and heat. Twenty minutes in to the
incident, Captain Grimm switched operations into defensive mode
and had all crews pulled out of the house. Firefighters worked
for an hour battling the blaze from the exterior before gaining
control.
Command reported fire contained to the involved structure at
10:08 that morning. Crews were able to re-enter the structure to
start the overhaul process. After inspection of the structure,
it was deemed unsafe and crews returned to exterior operations
only. Crews remained on the scene for several hours conducting
overhaul from the exterior the best they could with foam lines.
Firefighters
battled high humid temperatures the morning of the fire. Over 70
Fire & EMS personnel responded out to assist on the incident.
Multiple firefighters were rehabbed on the scene for heat while
three of those firefighters were also treated for minor injuries
sustained during the blaze.
The house at 605 was a complete loss while firefighters were
able to protect the house directly next-door from being
destroyed. All family members who were home at the time of the
fire were able to safely get out before fire departments
arrival. The Hagerstown American Red Cross Chapter was called in
by Command to assist the family of 5 displaced.
Fire crews were able to start wrapping up fire operations around
12:35 that afternoon. Hagerstown Fire Marshals remained on the
scene well into the afternoon working to find a cause of this
tragic blaze. The fire is still currently under investigation by
the City FM’s.
Hagerstown crews from Western Enterprise Station 4, Antietam
Fire Engine 2, First Hose Engine 1, Independent Juniors Engine
3, South End Fire Engine 5, Pioneer Hook & Ladder Truck 1 and
HFD Utility 3 responded out to the fire that humid morning. HFD
crews received assistance from Maugansville Co.13, Funkstown
Co.10, Halfway Co.26, Boonsboro Co.6, Washington County Special
Operations 20, Community Rescue Co.75, Washington County
Emergency Air Unit 25, Rehab Unit 255, Washington County D.F.E.S
1801 “Director Kevin Lewis”, The City Fire Marshals Office,
Hagerstown Special Police and The American Red Cross.
Story By William C. King of 1strespondernews.com
Photos ByTerry Sigler
of Maugansville Fire
Ten Hose Responds To
2 Alarm Blaze In Black Rock......
WASHINGTON
COUNTY, MD - On July 6, 2010 Emergency crews from Funkstown,
Mount Aetna and Hagerstown were alerted for a “House On Fire” at
11006 Shalom Lane in Black Rock Estates east of Hagerstown.
Washington County E.C.C. took the call around 2:45 that morning
reporting the house was in flames. Crews on Box 10-6 were
immediately dispatched out.
Funkstown units were able to see heavy flames over top the
surrounding houses as they approached the scene. Chief Fraley of
Funkstown immediately requested the Working Fire Assignment.
Firefighters arrived to find a two-story dwelling with heavy
fire through the roof. Chief Fraley assumed Shalom Command and
requested a tanker task force to assist with water supply. After
evaluating the scene Command requested the second alarm.
Firefighters
battling the blaze were face with not only the house but also
with burning grass around the residence due to the dry
conditions. Firefighters worked to keep the blaze contained to
the house while Trucks 1 and 26 worked to place ladder pipe
operations into effect. Once in place Trucks 1 and 26 were able
to knock down a large bulk of the fire.
Firefighters worked for nearly two hours before being able to
extinguish the fire. Reports show that over sixty fire and ems
personnel from over twenty different agencies responded out for
the two-alarm fire. Crews were on the scene into the early hours
of the morning Command was finally able to begin releasing units
at 8:00 a.m. that morning.
The blaze destroyed the house causing over one million dollars
in damage to the house. The family was home at the time it
started. All family members were able to safely evacuate the
structure prior to fire departments arrival on the scene. No one
was injured during the incident and The American Red Cross was
called in to assist the displaced family.
Due
to the large scale of the incident, State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst
(FM 26) immediately responded when Chief Fraley called for the
second Alarm. Deputy Ernst was able to find the cause to be
improperly discarded fireworks. The family had been lighting
ground-based sparklers earlier in the evening. Those sparklers
were discarded in a trashcan on the back deck while they were
still hot. The can caught fire spreading up the house into the
roof area and to a near by propane grill which added to the fuel
source for the fire.
Crews responding on the 10-6 Box consisted of Funkstown Fire
Co.10, Mt. Aetna Fire Co.16, Independent Juniors Eng.3, Pioneer
Hook & Ladder Truck 1, Halfway Fire Co.26, First Hose Eng.1,
Boonsboro Fire Co.6, Long Meadow Fire Co.27, Maugansville Fire
Co.13, Smithsburg Fire Co.7, Leitersburg Fire Co.9, Fairplay
Fire Co.12, Williamsport Fire Co.2, Washington County Special
Operations 20, Community Rescue Co.75, Boonsboro Rescue Squad
69, Smithsburg EMS Co.79, Washington County Emergency Air Unit
25, Emergency Rehab Unit 255, The Maryland State Fire Marshals
Office, The American Red Cross and the Hagerstown Special Police
Division. While crews were committed on the scene transfer crews
were called in from Middletown Co.7, Emmitsburg Co.6,
Williamsport Co.2 and Thurmont Co.30 to cover for Stations 10,
26, 7 and 79 till they were able to clear the incident.
Story By William C. King of 1strespondernews.com
July 6,
2010
Photos By
Justin Gearhart & Allan Robison of WCVFRA-PT
Ten Hose Responds To
Abandoned Barn Fire In Woodbridge......
Firefighters battle blaze at
abandoned barn near HCC
Firefighters
were battling a blaze at an abandoned barn
behind the 11400 block of Woodbridge Court just
east of Hagerstown Community College, a
Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher
said Friday afternoon.
The fire, which was reported
at about 2 p.m., was fully involved, the
dispatcher said at about 2:40 p.m. The Funkstown
Fire Department was the lead agency on the
scene.
Story By HERALD-MAIL June 18,2010,
2010
Photo By
Ric Dugan/Staff Photographer
Ten Hose Responds To
House Fire Near Clear Spring.............
High Winds Hamper
Firefighters
High
winds were firefighters' worst enemy Saturday night as a fire
destroyed a Washington County home. Just before 20:30 on May
8th, the Washington County 9-1-1 lines started ringing off the
hook. Callers were reporting a house fire in the 13200 Blk of
Independence Road in the western section of the county. Box 4-10
was struck and companies were dispatched for the reported
dwelling fire.
Clear Spring Engine 42 arrived on scene and reported a working
structure fire with heavy fire on side Charlie . Command was
established and after a quick scene size up, it was reported
that there was heavy fire in division 2 on sides B and C. Three
1 3/4 inch and one 2 1/2 inch attack lines were put into service
as crews began making an aggressive defensive attack on the
fire. Water supply is a problem in this rural area and a tanker
task force was called for by command to assist with water
supply. A water supply was established at Independence Rd. at
the Conocheague Creek with tankers shuttling water from that
location almost a mile away.
The fire was reported under control at approx. 22:00 hrs and
crews began an interior attack to knock down hot spots inside
the residence.
Over 60 firefighters from 14 companies fought high winds in a
loosing battle to save the structure. While property lose was
estimated at over $ 400,000.00, no injuries were reported.
At approximately 23:30 the fire was reported out and
salvage/overhaul was completed. With this, units began to pack
up as command advised Communications that units could go in
service when ready and command was terminated. Tanker 4 and
Special Unit 4 remained on scene to watch for a rekindle through
out the night.
The State Fire Marshal has listed the cause of the fire as
“Improper disposal of smoking materials”.
Washington County companies responding were; Clear Spring,
Williamsport, Maugansville, Halfway, Longmeadow, Hancock,
Funkstown, Fairplay, The Emergency Air Unit, Community Rescue
Service , Wash. Co Special Operations, Wash. Co Rehab Unit along
with Franklin County Co’s 9 & 3
Story By Michael Main May 11,2010
Photo By
Janet Grimm WCVFRAPT
Ten Hose Responds To
Two Alarm Blaze In Boonsboro.........
Accidental
fire causes $900,000 in damage at Thompson Gas
BOONSBORO
— A fire caused about $900,000 in damage to a
Thompson Gas building at 6708 Old National Pike
on Wednesday, the Maryland state fire marshal’s
office said. The fire was determined to be an
accident, Deputy State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst
wrote in a report. An
electric exhaust fan malfunctioned and
ignited wood framing, his report says.
About 60 firefighters from
Maryland and West Virginia helped put out the
fire. Oley Griffith, chief of The First Hose Co.
of Boonsboro, said heavy smoke was coming from
the building when a crew arrived shortly after
3:45 p.m. Firefighters then saw fire and smoke
in the ceiling, he said.
A second alarm was sounded,
sending more crews to the scene. Ernst wrote
that it took about an hour to control the fire.
No one was injured, but the building had
“significant damage,” his report said.
Griffith said Washington
County employee Rich Gaver condemned part of the
building. Thompson Gas and Ace Hardware are at
that address. Griffith said the building houses
a hardware store and the gas business. The
section of ceiling that burned is near an office
and a warehouse, he said.
Besides Boonsboro, fire
companies from Sharpsburg, Myersville,
Middletown, Funkstown, Fairplay, Mount Aetna,
Rohrersville and Wolfsville assisted on the
call. Ladder
trucks from Williamsport and Shepherdstown,
W.Va., also responded. Other responders,
according to Griffith and Ernst, included
Boonsboro
Ambulance, Smithsburg EMS, Community Rescue
Service and the county’s air, rehab and special
operations units.
Last month, Hagerstown-based
Thompson Gas announced that it would become the
19th-largest retail propane operator in the
United States because subsidiaries were
purchasing three other companies. At the time,
J. Randall Thompson, the company’s president and
CEO, said Thompson Gas serves about 28,000
customers in the Tri-State area and has more
than 100 employees in the mid-Atlantic region.
Ten Hose Recognizes Ed
Clopper For 50 Years Of Service.........
FUNKSTOWN
— When Ed Clopper was recognized Saturday night
for 50 years of service to Funkstown Volunteer
Fire Co., it was almost like a family party.
Also recognized at the fire
company’s annual awards banquet at the Funkstown
American Legion was Clopper’s sister, Linda
Kendle; daughter, Marsha Dieterich; son-in-law,
Kyd Dieterich; and Kyd’s brother, Vinson
Dieterich, all of whom were honored for 25 years
of service. Clopper’s son-in-law, Samuel Sarvey,
was named Firefighter of the Year.
His
wife, Jean, was given a plaque for allowing
Clopper to spend so much time volunteering for
the fire company, Ed Clopper said Sunday. She
also received a dozen red roses and a fire
company jacket.
Jean Clopper, also a fire
company volunteer, said she knew when she
married Ed Clopper that the fire company was
going to be part of the deal. Ed Clopper already
had about two years of service with Funkstown
under his belt when the couple got married.
“My great-grandfather was a
member, my grandfather was a member and my dad
also was a 50-year member,” said Ed Clopper, who
lives near Funkstown. With Clopper’s daughters,
Dieterich and Shelley Sarvey, in the fire
company, and his grandson, Nick Keller, a
member, that makes six generations volunteering
for the fire company.
Ed Clopper, 66, was a
firefighter for the first 23 of his 50 years
with Funkstown. After he recovered from a broken
neck, which wasn’t related to firefighting,
Clopper had to give up firefighting duties.
Clopper said he took charge
of the company’s fire-prevention campaign,
expanding it. He led the company’s
fire-prevention efforts from 1977 to 1982.
Around 1979, he came up with
the “friendly monster program,” in which he
likened the sound of a firefighter breathing
through a mask to the sound of Darth Vader from
“Star Wars.” He taught the kids that the sound
wasn’t from a monster, but from a firefighter
and if they heard it in a smoke-filled area,
they should head toward it.
Since 1972, Clopper has been
a fire policeman for the fire company and
continues to do that today. He also serves on
the fire company’s board of directors.
During
Saturday night’s awards banquet, Clopper
received seven plaques, including one from the
U.S. House of Representatives presented by U.S.
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md. He also received
plaques from the Maryland Senate, Maryland House
of Delegates, Washington County Sheriff’s
Office, the City of Funkstown, the fire company
and the Washington County Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Association, he said.
Also recognized for 25 years
of service on Saturday were Jeb Eckstine, Alfred
Larry Iseminger Jr., David Johnston, Robert
Buddy Rodgers, Joseph Royce and Charles
Snodderly.
Other honorees were Karl
Feldmeyer (Chief Award); Matthew Koebel (Rookie
of the Year); Duncan Ludwig (Cadet of the Year);
Dale Hill (Top Fire Responder of the year with
449 calls); and Fire Chief David Fraley (Top EMS
Responder of the Year).
Ten Hose Responds To
The First Call For 2010............
Fire and Emergency crews from Funkstown Fire and Halfway EMS
responded out for a reported Personal Injury Collision just
after ringing in the new year in a matter of minutes after the
ball dropped Thursday night. Washington County E.C.C. had
reports of a vehicle collision at Lyles Drive off of the
Sharpsburg Pike right around Midnight. Crews arrived to
find a minor MVC with no injuries.
Washington
County- On July 29th, Washington County E.C.C. received reports
of a fire in a vacant building at 113 Cumberland Street in Clear
Spring. Emergency crews on Box 4-7 were immediately dispatched
out for a building fire at 17:41 hours that evening. Ambulance
49-1 from Clear Spring EMS was the first unit on the scene and
reported smoke showing with a working situation. 
Firefighters
worked to battle the blaze from the exterior with Ladder Pipe
operations from three ladder trucks along with hand lines to
gain control. As firefighters battled the blaze, Command called
in for a 3rd Alarm to assist with manpower due to the extensive
operations. Command reported progress shortly after 20:00 hours
when he advised the E.C.C. that the fire was contained. Crews
were then able to conduct limited interior operations to get the
fire knocked down. 
The
bulk of the fire was knocked down by 21:02 hours that night.
Firefighters were able to downgrade operations and began
releasing some of the units brought in on the 3rd alarm. The
fire heavily damaged three homes. Two of the homes were known as
the Clear Spring Hotel constructed back in the early 1800’s
which was also well known as the Overbrook Hotel. All three
homes at 111, 113, and 115 Cumberland Street were vacant at the
time of the fire. A fourth home at 117 Cumberland Street
received some smoke damage and the American Red Cross out of
Hagerstown was called in to assist the family at that location.
Washington
County- On July 16th, Washington County E.C.C. took a call for a
kitchen fire on George Street in the west end section of
Hagerstown. Crews were quickly dispatched out at 08:53 hours
that morning. Within minutes after dispatch, Safety 3 “Adam
Hopkins” of the Hagerstown Fire Department arrived to find heavy
smoke billowing from the house. Upon Safety 3’s arrival he
reported flames showing to dispatch. Captain 32 “Russ Grimm”
immediately requested all remaining HFD units started along with
the Working Fire Assignment as he arrived and assumed George
Street Command..jpg)
Captain
Grimm quickly evaluated the deteriorating conditions and
requested the second alarm struck. Firefighters attempted an
interior attack on the house but were quickly pushed out by the
heavy amount of fire and heat. Twenty minutes in to the
incident, Captain Grimm switched operations into defensive mode
and had all crews pulled out of the house. Firefighters worked
for an hour battling the blaze from the exterior before gaining
control. .jpg)
Firefighters
battled high humid temperatures the morning of the fire. Over 70
Fire & EMS personnel responded out to assist on the incident.
Multiple firefighters were rehabbed on the scene for heat while
three of those firefighters were also treated for minor injuries
sustained during the blaze. .JPG)
WASHINGTON
COUNTY, MD - On July 6, 2010 Emergency crews from Funkstown,
Mount Aetna and Hagerstown were alerted for a “House On Fire” at
11006 Shalom Lane in Black Rock Estates east of Hagerstown.
Washington County E.C.C. took the call around 2:45 that morning
reporting the house was in flames. Crews on Box 10-6 were
immediately dispatched out.
Firefighters
battling the blaze were face with not only the house but also
with burning grass around the residence due to the dry
conditions. Firefighters worked to keep the blaze contained to
the house while Trucks 1 and 26 worked to place ladder pipe
operations into effect. Once in place Trucks 1 and 26 were able
to knock down a large bulk of the fire. 
Due
to the large scale of the incident, State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst
(FM 26) immediately responded when Chief Fraley called for the
second Alarm. Deputy Ernst was able to find the cause to be
improperly discarded fireworks. The family had been lighting
ground-based sparklers earlier in the evening. Those sparklers
were discarded in a trashcan on the back deck while they were
still hot. The can caught fire spreading up the house into the
roof area and to a near by propane grill which added to the fuel
source for the fire. 
Firefighters
were battling a blaze at an abandoned barn
behind the 11400 block of Woodbridge Court just
east of Hagerstown Community College, a
Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher
said Friday afternoon. 
High
winds were firefighters' worst enemy Saturday night as a fire
destroyed a Washington County home. Just before 20:30 on May
8th, the Washington County 9-1-1 lines started ringing off the
hook. Callers were reporting a house fire in the 13200 Blk of
Independence Road in the western section of the county. Box 4-10
was struck and companies were dispatched for the reported
dwelling fire. 
BOONSBORO
— A fire caused about $900,000 in damage to a
Thompson Gas building at 6708 Old National Pike
on Wednesday, the Maryland state fire marshal’s
office said. The fire was determined to be an
accident, Deputy State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst
wrote in a report. An
FUNKSTOWN
— When Ed Clopper was recognized Saturday night
for 50 years of service to Funkstown Volunteer
Fire Co., it was almost like a family party. 
His
wife, Jean, was given a plaque for allowing
Clopper to spend so much time volunteering for
the fire company, Ed Clopper said Sunday. She
also received a dozen red roses and a fire
company jacket. .JPG)
During
Saturday night’s awards banquet, Clopper
received seven plaques, including one from the
U.S. House of Representatives presented by U.S.
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md. He also received
plaques from the Maryland Senate, Maryland House
of Delegates, Washington County Sheriff’s
Office, the City of Funkstown, the fire company
and the Washington County Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Association, he said.