Gamber & Community Fire Co. and neighboring units were alerted for a house fire at 11:10 am on Monday, February 11, 2013. The fire was located on Doe Drive in a development off of Deer Park Road in Finksburg.

Paramedic 139 arrived first on the scene and reported heavy smoke showing with a resident standing on the side porch. She had evacuated herself safely. No other residents were present at the time of the fire.

Firefighters arrived shortly afterwards and reported fire in the basement with smoke from all sides of the one story ranch style house. A rapid intervention dispatch was alerted for a working fire in the residence. This brought additional apparatus and personnel as well as the Air Unit from Lineboro.

Entry via the front door was impossible due to furniture inside blocking the door. Firefighters made entry through the side door through the kitchen and through the basement door. In the basement, they had to knock through a wall that prevented access to the rest of the basement. A ventilation hole was cut in the roof to allow smoke and hot gases to escape.

Chief 13 Charlie Green assumed command. The fire was knocked down shortly afterwards and declared under control after that. Units on the scene worked for some time checking for hot spots and removing smoke and overhauling. Command was terminated at 2:49 pm.

The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the family. The first arriving paramedics also rescued a dog from the fire and attempted resuscitation but it perished in the smoke.

Gamber was assisted by Reese, Westminster, Sykesville, Hampstead, Reisterstown, Glyndon, and Lineboro. An engine from Winfield Fire Co. filled in at Gamber.

Deputy State Fire Marshals were on the scene investigating. There was no determination of the cause or the amount of loss.