MD Firefighter Severely Burned Battling Garage Fire

A Maryland firefighter suffered significant burns while battling a two-alarm garage fire Tuesday that also injured two other first responders.

The fire started just after 10:15 a.m. in a large garage that also included an apartment built above it, the Herald-Mail reports. No one was in the apartment when the fire started, and no civilian injuries were reported stemming from the call.

Nearly 75 firefighters responded to the fire, with crews coming from multiple neighboring communities, including almost all of Washington County's fire companies and departments in Maryland's Frederick County and West Virginia's Berkeley County. As they reached the scene, flames had engulfed the second-story apartment, and a thick column of black smoke that could be seen in downtown Hagerstown. 

One firefighter was seriously injured while battling the fire and was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. It was unclear what department he was a member of and the extent of his injuries.

"He suffered significant burns early on in the fire," Dave Chisholm, deputy director for Washington County's Emergency Services Department, told the Herald-Mail.

Two other firefighters also were injured during the call. They suffered from exertion, and they were taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Crews had the fire under control just before 12:15 p.m., with firefighters staying at the scene to check for hot spots. The cause of the fire is under investigation.