Firefighters Gain 4-Legged Recruit Battling Field Blaze: Harford County Fire And EMS

BEL AIR, MD — Authorities from Bel Air and surrounding fire companies battled a field fire amid high winds Sunday afternoon, officials reported.

The 3-acre woods fire broke out in the 3000 block of Sandy Hook Road and took a hour to control, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

"Winds and a remote location made it a difficult fire to work," he said. "The guys did get one new recruit while working — a pig." He shared a photo of the crew, including their new recruit, which is posted with this article.

First responders from multiple fire companies continued looking for hot spots around 2:45 p.m. to ensure there was no lingering fire that had spread.

Wind gusts were 23 to 25 mph in Bel Air between noon and 3 p.m. Sunday, with temperatures in the 40s, according to the National Weather Service.

Based on preliminary investigation, Gardiner reported the blaze began with an unattended campfire.

Photo Credit: Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Chief Bill Snyder.