UNATTENDED BURN PIT RESULTS IN WOODS FIRE

Around 4:30 Sunday afternoon, Station2 was alerted for a fire in a backyard on Eikon Lane. Brush 25 with two personnel and Engine/Tanker 24 with a crew of six responded. A large column of white smoke could be seen from a distance while the vehicles were en route. The homeowners were using a burn pit in the woods and left it unattended only to find the woods on fire when they later came back outside. After an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the fire themselves, they called 911. We arrived to find about 1-1/2 to 2 acres of woodlands on fire with fire near a detached garage. The engine crew immediately went to work protecting the garage and above-ground propane tank in the rear while the brush crew worked to contain the woods fire. The fire was quickly contained and the operation transitioned to extensive overhaul. The homeowner's fence was burned up and the siding and soffit had melted on the back of a garage. Also, the above-ground propane tank had scorch marks on it. Other units on scene were Brush 95 (water supply) and Baltimore County units Engine/Tanker 431 and Brush 436. The fire is considered to be accidental.