THIRTY-NINE YEARS AGO TODAY – The Baltimore Sun reported that on August 26, 1974, a worker was killed and another injured when a fuel compartment exploded in a 40-foot-long Asphalt dryer in which they were working located at the Bituminous Asphalt Company on Cunningham Road just off of Route 170 in Severn, Anne Arundel County, MD at about 2 P.M. According to AACo.FD Division Chief Bruce Hisley, the crew was attempting to repair a fuel leak when they lit an oxy-acetylene cutting torch igniting flammable vapors inside the 10-foot diameter tank. The ignition resulted in an explosion that caused a section of the cylindrical metal tank to collapse crushing 40-year-old Paul P. Proud of Greensboro, MD, who died instantly. Theodore B Faatz, age 25 of Glen Burnie was hurled about 20 feet from the end of the tank where he was standing. Faatz, who was transported to University Hospital in Baltimore was listed in satisfactory condition that same night. Hisley said the company aired the tank out over the weekend but apparently did not get all of the vapors out. That day was a “C” shift and Firefighters Gary Rogers, Dave Dohler and myself were listening to all of the fire radio traffic on the monitor in the alarm room at the Maryland City Fire Station, Co.#27. I had returned from my lieutenant’s promotional interview at HQ and had just hung up my dress blues in my locker to change back into my comfortable gray work uniform when a series of thunder storms swept through West county. It was during the storm or just after the storm that fire alarm toned out the Rescue Box for Bituminous Asphalt. While en-route, Truck #33 responding west on Dorsey Road and approaching the Old Telegraph Road intersection to turn onto Old Telegraph slid on the slick roadway causing the trailer portion of the vehicle to strike a telephone pole. I don’t remember how much damage was done to the trailer but Firefighter Jim Bostic was tillering and was slightly injured (according to the paper). I believe Firefighter Ken Klasmeier was driving and Lieutenant Bernie Pultz was riding shotgun. I don’t remember if another vehicle was involved or not, but I thought fire alarm toned out another rescue box for the Truck #33 accident – not sure. For more on the story, maybe Ken Klasmeier, Jim Bostic or whoever else was at the accident will chime in. There have been a number of calls to the Bituminous Asphalt site over the years. I believe the tank is still there today. In 1994-96 when I was assigned as Battalion #4, the tank imploded on a Sunday afternoon. By the time all units arrived I think what was ever burning had self-extinguished and no one was injured. I remember Odenton VFD’s (Co. #28) Chief Chuck Rogers, Captain Andy Koch, Engine #33 and Lieutenant Dave Bond, Engine #26 working at the incident also on that afternoon.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 22:39:06 +0000