Fire at the Elkridge McDonald's Sends One to Shock Trauma

ELKRIDGE, MD - A grill fire at the Elkridge McDonald's restaurant has left the building charred and damaged as fire investigators work to determine the cause of an early morning blaze.

Firefighters were summoned to the restaurant at approximately 5:45 in the morning of Thursday, December 17, 2009, and arrived to find smoke showing from the building. Due to the lightweight construction of the building and the conditions encountered, firefighters initiated a defensive operation. After a few minutes, a change in the conditions allowed for an offensive attack. Upon entering the building, firefighters encountered fire in the center of the building.

Paramedics transported 1 civilian patient as a priority 2 (serious) to Shock Trauma for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Howard County fire investigators. The fire, which closed Route 1, took approximately 75 minutes to extinguish, and required firefighters from Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties to extinguish. No damage estimate was available.

Battalion Chief 1 had the Elkridge command; Battalion Chief 2 had the fire attack group. Additional command staff assisted at the fireground, including Unit 301 and Unit 330.


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