At approximately 1730 hrs. (5:30pm) a brush fire was reported at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg. Units arriving on scene reported a large brush fire, and requested additional resources. Multiple units including Engines, Brush Engines, and Brush Trucks were sent. Special requested on this incident was Sandy Spring’s ATV-740 Bravo, one of two ATVs Sandy Spring keeps in its fleet. Unique to other ATVs in the county, ATV-740 Bravo is a firefighting unit equipped with a 115 gallon tank and positive displacement pump. Being small and agile, it can reach many places even 4×4 Brush Trucks cannot. Additionally, it is equipped with a small portable suction pump it can use to draw water from creeks and ponds to refill its tank, making it self-sufficient. Upon arrival, ATV-740 Bravo assisted with extinguishment and mop up of hot spots before returning to service several hours later.

Once made available in quarters, it wasn’t long before assistance was again requested on another large brush fire in Clarksburg. Again, ATV-740 Bravo responded, and went to work on extinguishment and mop up. The ATV crew was on scene until approximately 0230 hrs. (2:30 am).

The cause of both fires is under investigation, and no injuries were reported as of this writing…

Photos by Lt. Bonita and Dep. Chief Dinowitz.