On Tuesday August 2 at 1603 hours (4:03 pm), units were dispatched on Box Alarm 1-3 for a building fire with hazardous materials involved in the 1600 block of Back Acre Circle. First arriving Engine 12 found smoke coming from the rear of the building. Personnel from the business advised that fine aluminum dust was involved and that application of water would cause the fire to flare up rapidly or perhaps explode. Crews made entry to the rear of the building and attempted to knock the fire down with hand portable fire extinguishers with a special chemical agent for use on combustble metal fires. The fire proved to be too hot and inaccessible to extinguish with the hand held extinguishers. Due to the heat of the day and the complexity of the fire situation, a second alarm was sounded for additional manpower and metal extinguishers. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the sanding room until the fire burned away most of the dust, then the fire was extinguished. There was heavy damage to the sanding room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the building. There was no need for evacuation of any nearby homes or businesses. The origin of the fire was in the sanding room, and the cause was accidental, a spark from a grinder on steel ignited the dust in the sanding room. Damage estimates are incomplete at this time.

There were approximately 35 pieces of fire and rescue apparatus on the scene with approximately 100 personnel. Units responded from Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, and Frederick counties. The Hazardous Materials Team from Carroll County responded as did a chemical extinguishing unit from Howard County DFRS. Rehab support was provided by Mt. Airy VFC, Independent Hose Company from Frederick, and the Howard County Volunteer Firemen's Association Rehab unit. All units cleared the scene at 1945 hours (7:45 pm).