North County firefighters have had two hectic weeks as they battled two barn fires and two house fires between July 16 and 29.

Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company was the first unit to respond to both house fires and was on the scene of all four.

“I've looked back on my 40 years with the fire company and I don’t remember this many calls so close together,” said Claud Gamble, with Jacksonville volunteers. “It’s not that unusual for other parts of the county, but it’s very unusual for up here.”

The first house fire, at 14524 Old York Road, Phoenix, was called in at 7:45 a.m. on July 24, according to a Baltimore County fire department official. The electrical fire caused $110,000 worth of damage and was under control at 8:30 a.m., she said.

The homeowner was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, according to firefighters, after he went back into his house to get his dog.

The second house fire occurred July 29 at 2804 York Manor Road, in Phoenix. The fire was called in at 10:35 p.m. and there was “heavy fire showing” when Jacksonville volunteers arrived, a fire department official said.

There were no injuries, but the fire, which started in the garage, caused $200,000 in damage. The official cause is accidental fire by spontaneous combustion. Firefighters said the blaze started when a pile of rags, used in staining and sealing wooden floors, caught fire.

Firefighters said they could see smoke from miles away as they responded to a barn fire in the 13900 block of Baldwin Mill Road. The fire was called in at 10:42 a.m. on July 16. The 20- by 30-foot barn, filled with hay, was destroyed. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to just that building. Damage was estimated at $10,500.

Long Green Volunteer Fire Company was the first to respond on July 26 at 6:56 p.m. to a barn fire at 5400 Hydes Road in Hydes. There were severe storms that evening, and firefighters said someone saw lightning strike the barn.

It was filled with 200 bales of hay, a fire department official said. The barn was destroyed in the fire, but firefighters managed to save adjacent structures. Volunteers from Long Green and Jacksonville were the last to leave the site at 4:40 a.m. July 27, according to firefighters. There was no damage estimate.

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