TRAIN CROSSING DELAYS FIREFIGHTERS ON BLADENSBURG HOUSE FIRE

Bladensburg, Maryland - At approximately 9:00 pm on Thursday, November
18, 2004, the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
was alerted to a report of a outside fire in the 4200 block of 51st
Street, in the Town of Bladensburg.  Bladensburg Engine 93 arrived on
scene to find a house on fire at 5103 Tilden Road.  At this time,
Prince George's County Fire Communications dispatched the remainder of
the house fire assignment.  Part of this assignment was Truck 55R from
the Cottage City/Colmar Manor Volunteer Fire Department.  Truck 55R is
a ladder truck carrying ground ladders and special equipment.  As the
first due ladder truck their responsibilities include: Making obvious
rescues and ensure occupants are evaluated and given appropriate
medical care, ladder upper floors for rescue and removal of occupants
and for the safety of operating personnel, conduct a primary search of
the entire structure for occupants.  Truck 55R was not able to
accomplish any of these duties due to being delayed at the railroad
crossing in the 4600 block of Annapolis Road.  Truck 55R was delayed
long enough that another ladder truck had to be dispatched from
Hyattsville.

There were no injuries on the fire. The house was later discovered to
be vacant.  The house sustained approximately $10,000 damage.