On Saturday, August 27th 2011, Maryland along with the rest of the Mid-Atlantic Region anticipated the arrival of Hurricane Irene. With crews on stand-by throughout Baltimore County, Owings Mills was attended with Engine 312 and Truck 313. We were holding strong with at least 9 members. After a sleepless night of running wires down and the occasional unfounded box alarm, the truck crew was alerted for Firebox 31-19 at 17 Straw Hat Road at 0805hrs on August 28th. Truck 313 was first arriving with a three story garden-style apartment complex - nothing evident. However, the truck crew did notice a faint odor of burning. After investigation of the building, units found one door which needed to be forced. Upon forcing entry, crews found the apartment filled with heavy smoke. Engine 19 advanced a line as Truck 313 began the primary search. Approximately 3-4 feet in the doorway a victim was found and brought out of the apartment. Crews from Truck 313, Engine 19 and Truck 18 continued to search and advance the handline. Further searches were negative and the fire was found to be smoldering. The box was placed in service approximately 45 min – 1 hour later. Truck 313 and Engine 19 remained on scene to assist FID until 1047 hrs. Unfortunately, the victim rescued from the apartment was deceased. Engine 312 was busy on another call when the firebox was alerted and they eventually were the RIT Engine Company.

On August 7th, among other runs for the day, Co. 31 responded to multiple incidents on I 795 including  one 2-50 1050-PI on NB 795 and two 31-51 10-50 PI’s on SB 795, one with rollover/multiple patients.

E312 assisted Engine and Medic 2 with traffic control on the 2-50 PI.

Later, E312 and M2 handled a two vehicle MVC with one patient on a 31-51 PI.

The last run on 795 for the day was initially dispatched as a 10-50 Rollover 31-51 box SB 795. As E312 called en route they were advised to switch to the tactical channel for a 10-50 Rescue bringing additional units. Upon arrival, units found no entrapment but multiple patients. The rescue assignment was scaled back but multiple BLS and ALS units were requested for a total of 5 patients to be transported. M315 transported one patient Pri 2 to 210.

On Thursday morning just before 6 o’clock, Engine 312 was dispatched to respond with surrounding companies for the reported dwelling fire on Gwynnwest Road. The engine company responded on the call with 4 volunteers. Minutes later, Engine 412 from Reisterstown arrived on location to find smoke showing from an end of the group town house. Upon our arrival, an update was given by command stating that fire was showing from the basement. Engine 312′s crew was tasked with assisting E412 on the fire floor with extinguishment and commencing the primary search as well as checking for extension. Units operated on this incident for an hour and a half before returning to service.

Shortly after midnight on August 2nd, Firebox 40-6 was alerted for the Dwelling fire on Thorden Road. Engine 312 responded on the initial assignment. First arriving units initially observed nothing evident from the exterior. However upon further investigation, light smoke was showing from the eves of the home and the attic was charged with smoke. Units stretched a line and opened up in the kitchen area to find a small area burning possibly due to a faulty wire. Engine 312 was requested to side alpha with hooks and assisted opening up and ensuring no fire extension within the attic and soffit area. Units began to clear as the home was ventilated. Engine 312 worked for approx. 20 minutes before placed in service.