SSVFD Units Respond to a Report of a Building Fire in Brinklow – Monday, February 24, 2020

On Monday February 24, 2020 at 2:51pm, Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (SSVFD) companies 4 and 40 were dispatched to Emmanuel-Brinklow SDA Church in the 18800 Block of New Hampshire Avenue in Brinklow for a report of a building fire. Crews arrived along with Sandy Spring Chief 704 and found no signs of a fire from outside the building. Crews made entry to the church and found a malfunctioning furnace which was producing black smoke from a chimney. There was no fire and the building was not occupied at time. This was a rural fire dispatch, meaning there are no fire hydrants located in the immediate area.  A water cistern located on an adjacent property was available for water supply.  Tanker wagons from Sandy Spring VFD and Laytonsville VFD were also dispatched to assist with water supply, had there been a fire.