Hiding under just about every desk onboard Naval Air Station Patuxent River is the ubiquitous surge protector/power strip, and rarely does anyone give it a second thought as they go through their work day. But as a recent office fire onboard the base served as a reminder, maybe they should.
At 1:49 p.m. Aug. 30, the fire alarm sounded in Building 1668. One of its occupants did a quick search and noticed smoke coming from under an office door. He then alerted other occupants and called the emergency line.
“The call was dispatched at approximately 1:51 and the first fire unit was on location at approximately 1:57,” said Pax River’s Battalion Fire Chief of Prevention JP Caulder.