Gamber & Community Fire Co. and neighboring fire companies were alerted for a house fire just after midnight on Saturday, March 4. The initial call was dispatched at approximately 12:13 am to the 1100 block of Pouder Road in Sykesville. As units responded, the call was upgraded to a possible person trapped.

First arriving units reported seeing smoke and flames as they turned onto Pouder Road from Cherry Tree Lane. Crews set up to do a fire attack from the front driveway and also determined that all residents of the house had escaped the fire on their own prior to arrival of the fire department. Unfortunately, three dogs perished in the fire.

A tanker shuttle was established since the neighborhood has no fire hydrants. Brush 135 set up water supply at Century High School but eventually was not needed.

Crews worked for over an hour, brought the fire under control, and started overhauling. Captain 13, Chad Hastings, had command. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. No working smoke alarms were located inside the dwelling.

Members of the fire department are currently organizing a return trip to the neighborhood in order to perform free fire safety checks and install new smoke alarms where needed.