MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD (WUSA9) — Fire rescue teams are stressing just how dangerous storm drains can be after they searched for two teens believed to be in a Germantown storm drain over the weekend.
Roughly five times a year, Montgomery County's fire technical rescue team finds themselves in the county's vast network of storm drains. Sunday was no exception. They said storm drains have become a place for drug deals and curious kids.
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"We've had instances they've used it as a hangout, and in one instance, we've had a couch on fire, I don't know why,” said Assistant Fire Chief Maurice Witt.
After an intense search Sunday, rescue teams found that someone had been in the drain, but was no longer there.
Still, firefighters warned that drains like the one they searched can be very dangerous. One reason is that leaves or grass dumped in drains can deplete oxygen.
"When people go in there, if there's an oxygen deficient atmosphere, there's no one watching them, so they might be missing for a while," Witt said.
The technical rescue team uses specialized tools for confined space rescues, including breathing apparatuses and gas meters.
