The Volunteers from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department were alerted at 2151 to a report of a boat in distress/taking on water. E-91 (Yount) responded along with Boat-3 (Solomons VFD), Boat-4 (Ridge VFD), Dept. of Natural Resources to the report of 26' boat with no power and 4 people on board approximately 1-2 miles north of the Thomas Johnson Bridge. C-3B (Stockwell), CAPT-3 (Burroughs) in U-3, LT-9 (Martoni) and LPVRS AMB-389 also responded. Communication was a factor and disorientation was also a problem (due to darkness), Capt-3 requested that a MSP Helicopter be started and weather was also a concern due to high winds and possible hypothermia as well.

Command was initiated and a staging area on North Patuxent Beach Road was established. Upon arrival C-3B assumed command, E-91 proceeded to the Solomon's side for additional search coverage, Boat-3 (Solomons) set out from Solomons Island working north from the Bridge and Boat-4 (Ridge) set out from NAS Patuxent River searching north from their location. Our nearest helicopter was Trooper-2 which was approximately 22 minutes out and their value can not be understated as their (Bazillion) Watt Light as Captain Burroughs called it was utilized for this operation. Although the farthest response time, Trooper-2 also found the boat first as we also utilized coordinates from cell towers to help pinpoint the boat. The Boats including DNR's responded to the scene and the boat was found off of NAS Pax River's - Solomons Annex. No one was injured (confirmed 3 passengers) and the boat was towed by Boat-3 to the Solomon's Pier, escorted by Boat-4 and DNR.

Upon their arrival at the pier the Master of the Vessel spoke with DNR and MSP, the passengers of the vessels were checked out and cared for if needed. Command was then terminated and all units returned to service. The Coast Guard was also aware of the situation and the outcome.

For mutual aid or multi-organization calls this is as large as it gets (locally) and it really makes a large difference when the local departments are familiar with the abilities and capabilities of each others departments resources. This made finding the vessel and its personnel much easier, the operation smoother and outcome what we all desired - that everyone return home safely. A big thank you to all our mutual aide departments for the assistance they provided.