On the evening of September 23, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue was alerted to a fire in Columbia. Upon arrival, the first crews found a town-home complex with heavy fire coming from the middle of the complex. It was determined that an explosion had occurred with heavy fire resulting in the damage of multiple units. The task force was alerted which brought ECVFD Engine 21 to the fireground. The crew operated on the Charlie side of the main unit in fire suppression operations. The fire went to a third alarm, bringing ECVFD engine 81 to the fireground to operate on the exposures and help in overhaul and foam application on the main unit. ECVFD units operated on the fireground for approximately four hours. HCDFRS received mutual aid from Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, and Baltimore County.
