At 11:05 a.m. Thursday, a house on North Patuxent Beach Road, California, was reported to be fully ablaze in view of the Thomas Johnson Bridge in California. Numerous volunteer firefighters and ambulances raced to the scene from St. Mary’s and Calvert counties.
On the scene within minutes, Chief Joe Gould of Bay District Volunteer Fire Department reported that the house at the intersection with Bill Dixon Road was fully-involved, with fire coming through the roof.
At 11:15 a.m., a second “alarm” was rang for the fire, bringing additional Calvert County volunteer fire companies, including crews from Prince Frederick. Minutes later additional dispatches were issued for water tanker trucks from Second District, Leonardtown, and St. Leonard fire departments.
At 11:33 p.m. Chief Gould reported the flames were almost completely knocked down, and firefighters were protecting a large propane tank in the rear of the building that was exposed to fire. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office responded, and firefighters remained on the scene for nearly an hour.
The single male owner of the single-story house, Don Pease, showed up while firefighters were battling the blaze and reported that his dog was still inside. Moments later a firefighter found the pooch in the house and brought it out in a singed cage.
Water pumper trucks established a “draught” in the Patuxent River near Neptunes Bar.
Incidentally, Lexington Park volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members responded directly to the fire from a medical scene with a helicopter flyout and a combatitive patient.
Moments after the fire was dispatched, a flood was reported at Leonardtown High School, eventually bringing five fire companies there to help clean up the water.
The Maryland Fire Marshal’s Office reported later on Thursday that the fire was accidental in nature, which started from a leak in an exterior propane tank that ignited.
The damage was estimated at $175,000. The Southern Maryland Chapter of the Red Cross is helping the man.