Eight firefighters escaped uninjured when a fire damaged the Prince George's County fire station in Upper Marlboro Saturday morning.
The fire was reported at the firehouse just after 5 a.m. and officials said smoke alarms alerted the sleeping firefighters.
"We do have our share of fires in Prince George’s County, but running a fire within one of our own fire stations is very unique," Fire & EMS Department spokesman Alan Doubleday told WJLA.com. "It doesn’t happen very often."
"We’re so thankful that our firefighters did exactly what we expect them to do, they evacuated the building, they called 911 believe it or not," according to Doubleday.
Flames gutted an ambulance and damaged two fire apparatus, including a heavy rescue unit.
"That fire burned up into the ceiling and partially through the roof of the firehouse, so we have significant damage," he said.
Doubleday said they believe the fire started in the ambulance's engine.
Crews will be reassigned to other station as the department works to get fire crew back in that community, including the use of trailers, officials said.
The department is exploring the idea of moving temporary trailers to the property for fire crews to work out of while on duty, but authorities are still examining the logistics.
