Photos by Ron Bailey
La Plata, MD – The chief of a volunteer fire company in Virginia is being credited with saving the lives of two people trapped inside a burning home in La Plata. The incident occurred Thursday morning, April 2 at a house on Charles Street.
According to the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department (Company 1) and other reports received by The Bay Net, Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Robey was traveling on Route 6 through La Plata when he saw smoke coming from the house.
A report from Company 1, crews “arrived, established command and reported occupants of the home had been rescued. Two occupants were transported to Charles Regional Medical Center for smoke inhalation. No firefighter injuries were reported.”
Company 1 Deputy Chief Doug Hutchins told The Bay Net early Thursday evening that the two injured people have since been released from the hospital.
The general manager of All-American Harley Davidson in Hughesville reported Robey was traveling through Charles County and on his way to the motorcycle dealership to complete the paperwork on a Harley the Colonial Beach company was buying for an upcoming fundraising raffle.
“When Chief Robey arrived to All-American to do the paperwork, he apologized for being late and described to me what happened,” stated Steve “Smurf” Keene, the dealership’s general manager. “Chief Robey got a huge round of applause from us and our customers when I shared what he had done. We cannot thank him enough.”
“He was in the right place at the right time,” said Hutchins, who explained Robey had been in contact with the Company 1 chief about the best way to get to Hughesville. Because of that he was on Route 6 when the fire occurred.
Forty-seven firefighters from La Plata, Waldorf, Bel Alton, Indian Head, Mechanicsville, Potomac Heights and Bryans Road were dispatched to the one-alarm blaze. Crews brought the flames under control in 13 minutes.
According to a report from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze, which was sparked shortly after 11 a.m., was caused by a discarded cigarette. The fire started on the front deck of the single-story, wood-frame home.
“The fire caused moderate damage to the home, displacing the owner,” Dfm. Don Brenneman reported. “The owner is being assisted by family.”
The owner was identified in the fire marshal’s report as Phillip Cartwright. Damage to the home is estimated at $100,000.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
April 2, 1:15 p.m.
Multiple units from Charles and St. Mary’s Counties responded to a working house fire at 10382 Charles Street.
Route 6 is currently operating at one lane and traffic is being directed by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
Use caution in the area.
