Around 1200 hrs station crews noticed a large column of black smoke from the back of the station. The officer on duty at the station started a local assignment for a smoke investigation in the area of Mill Creek Middle School. The duty crew took the Pumper-Tanker on the investigation and while enroute Calvert 911 advised they were taking calls for a working house fire within the Chesapeake Ranch Estates. With this information Chief 3 automatically started the working house fire assignment.

Chief 3 arrived within five minutes of dispatch to find a two story house with a walk out basement with fire through the roof. Engine 33 dropped a supply line from a hydrant and pulled an attack line to the main floor. Crews found fire coming up from the basement stair well. Crews quickly secured the basement door on the first floor and and regrouped to side Charlie to extinguish the fire in the basement while a second attack line was pulled and utilized to put a knock on the fire on the second floor.

Crews operated on scene assisting the fire marshal and overhauling for approximately two hours.

* Side Note: The homeowner had a cat that had not been accounted for during operations, as crews were finishing up to leave they located the pet hiding in the basement in a corner alive and well. The cat was taken to a local vet immediately for check up and evaluation.