Press Release - June 4, 2004

Date:
June 4, 2004

Contact:
Robert Korb, Jr., CFI, CFPS - Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: (410) 632-5666 Ext.4; Email: rkorb@co.worcester.md.us

SPRINKLERS SAVE BERLIN APARTMENT BUILDING

The Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office investigated a garden style apartment fire located at the Reedy Cove Apartments on Reedy Cove Drive in Berlin yesterday afternoon.

The Berlin Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to a reported working apartment fire at 4:30 PM. Initial reports from 9-1-1 callers advised an occupant was trapped in the building. Berlin Police Officer Cliff Christello arrived first on the scene and located the victim in a first floor apartment and brought her to safety prior to fire units arriving.

Fire crews arrived quickly and located a clothes dryer on fire in a first floor common area laundry room. The building was protected throughout by an automatically activated fire sprinkler suppression system. The sprinkler system activated from the fire in the dryer and contained the fire to the room of origin. No fire damage to the building occurred and occupants were able to return to their homes later that evening once electricity was restored.

The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire to be accidental and originated in a coin operated clothes dryer in a first floor common area laundry room. The fire is believed to have been contributed from excessive buildup of clothing lint.

The building is owned and operated by Wolfe Chase LLD. Crews remained on the scene for approximately one hour performing overhaul operations. No injuries were reported.

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For further information, the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office can be reached by calling 410-632-5666 or on the web at www.wcfmo.org.

Scene Photographs
(By: Robert Korb, Jr. - Deputy Fire Marshal)