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Multi-Alarm Fire at Thurmont Co-OperativeFirefighters are being credited with a "good save" at Friday's multi-alarm fire at the Thurmont Co-Operative. Box 10-1 was struck at 6:38 PM on Friday, April 12, 2002 for a report of fire at the Co-Op at 36 Walnut Street. Guardian Hose Company volunteer firefighter Kevin Fox had dialed 911 and reported "smoke showing" at the Co-op. Initial dispatch information on the printout from Frederick County's 911 Center showed "Heavy smoke coming out of building / flames through the roof". Initial companies dispatched on the first alarm included: Guardian Hose (Company 10), Thurmont Ambulance (Company 30), Graceham VFC (Company 18), Rocky Ridge VFC (Company 13), Lewistown District VFD (Company 22), and Vigilant Hose Company (Emmitsburg, Company 6). Lewistown VFD Chief Donnie Stull was in the area and radioed one of the first reports from the scene confirming a working fire. Command 10 was implemented and operations were moved to an alternate radio channel. GHC Assistant Chief Chris Kinnaird, after communicating via radio with Chief Stull, requested a second alarm and a second aerial piece to supplement Vigilant Hose's Tower 6 which was already responding. Due to drought-like conditions in mid-Maryland and water restrictions in place, Guardian Hose Chief Joe Ohler had already, several weeks previously, requested that the Frederick County 911 Center add additional Class "A" Tankers to all box alarms in our first due area. Shortly after the first units arrived on the scene, additional tankers (beyond those already responding or having been dispatched) were requested and tanker shuttle operations began. Water was drafted from Frank Bentz Pond on West Main Street and hauled to the fire scene where it was dumped into several Fold-a-tanks. The Thurmont Co-operative mills grain and corn and mixes custom feed for local farmers and has been in existence for at least 75 years. In addition to the first responding fire companies, mutual aide was received from: Woodsboro VFD (Company 16), New Midway VFC (Company 9), Wolfsville VFD (Company 21), Libertytown VFC (Company 17), Walkersville VFC (Company 11), Citizens Truck Company (Company 4), Taneytown VFC (Carroll County Company 5), Smithsburg VFD (Washington County Company 7), Gettsyburg FD (Adams County Pennsylvania Company 1), Greenmount VFD (Adams County Company 23), and Blue Ridge Summit VFC (Franklin County Pennsylvania Company 4). The fire has been ruled accidental in nature by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, and the Co-Op re-opened for business the following morning, Saturday, April 13, 2002 at approximately 7:30 AM.
(Photos on this page courtesy of Guardian Hose Company member Rob Renner).
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