On Saturday evening as storms were hitting the area, Station 5, EMS Stations 59 and 29 were alerted to a tent collapse on Lower Brambley Lane in Chaptico. Chief 5 and Squad 5 responded just after dispatch and further information was obtained that 30-50 people were under a tent at a wedding party and the tent collapsed from the high winds. With this information Chief 5 requested an EMS All Call for St. Mary's County, two additional squads, and the Charles County Mass Casualty Unit.

Chief 5 arrived on scene and established the Chaptico Command. Upon investigation it was determined that no one was trapped under the tent, but there were numerous injuries. Squad 5 arrived and had to clear a tree that had fallen across Lower Brambley Lane before responding back to the scene.

Squad 5 handled the triage, while Chief 5A was the EMS Unit coordinator. Chief 39 responded to the scene and held the EMS division. All EMS units were placed in staging and called back to the scene two at a time. Lieutenant 9 held the staging at Sacred Heart Church. Engine 52 and Squad 2 conducted additional searches of the tent to ensure all occupants were accounted for.

Squad 1 arrived and their crew assisted Squad 5 with triage. EMS units began transporting patients to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital. In total eight patients were transported to St. Mary's. Several patients also went in their pov's to the hospital. Once all patients were transported the assignment was held with Company 5 units.

Units operated on the scene for approximately two hours before returning to quarters.

Audio of the incident courtesy of ScanMD.org - http://www.scanmd.org/public/audio/audioView.cfm?Audio_ID=696