On Sunday, March 10 2002 at 1408 hrs. with wind speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts near 50 mph the Memorial VFD of Slaughter Beach, DE was alerted for a reported brush fire on Fowlers Beach Rd. south of town. Upon the arrival of Brush 89, 89 command advised Sussex EOC that they had a rapidly advancing brush fire that had extended into the marsh and was threatening several houses, and made his first requested of many for mutual aid. The first request for mutual aid came at 1414 hrs. and brought the Milton, Ellendale, & Milford VFD's as well as Delaware Department of Forestry and Trooper II to the scene. By 1600 hrs. 89 command had made 7 requests for mutual aid that had brought the Lewes, Georgetown, Rehoboth Beach, Greenwood, Bridgeville, Indian River, Seaford, South Bowers, Farmington, Houston, Federica, Harrington, Bowers Beach, Madnolia, Marydel, Camden/Wyoming & from Maryland Denton, Goldsboro, Greensboro VFD's & Federal Firefighter out of the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge Md. By 1700 hrs. 89 command had met with the Delaware Department of Forestry and had begun lighting back fires in an effort to cut off the southern advance of the fire line, but was still battling the westward advance into heavy brush and more marsh. At 1738 hrs the 8th request was made bringing Dover, Lipsic, Little Creek, Clayton & Cheswold VFD's. By this times 26 departments were operating on scene and 12 departments providing cover assignments. The Dagsboro VFD got the call at 1828 hrs. for single engine & brush company cover assignment for the Georgetown VFD. At 1831 hrs. Brush 730 marked on the air under the command of Captain Townsend and Engine 732 marked on the air under the command of 2nd Assist. Chief Stevens at 1833 hrs. The 9th and final request was made at 1844 hrs. bringing Brush 730 along Millsboro, Brush 83 & Bethany Beach, Brush 70 from their stand-by assignments to the scene. Upon the arrival of Brush 730 at 1911 hrs. it was assigned to support operations on the southwestern fire line in an attempt to halt the spread on to the Walls Farm and an area of heavy brush and a dense wooded area. This sector was placed under control after approx. 30 min. of operations and Brush 730 was reassigned to the northwestern sector of the fire line also on the Walls Farm in an attempt to cut it off from a large grass area. Upon arrival to the northwestern sector Brush 730 was grouped with the Federal Firefighters out of the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and a brush company out of Little Creek an given the task to support the federal firefighter. Brush 730 was assigned to water supply for the Marsh Master as it made its attack onto the marsh trying to cut off the southward advance of the fire. After operating in this sector for over an hour Brush 730 was once again reassigned to support in a back burn near the Bay Ave. where several home could be threatened of the wind were to shift. While enroute to this assignment the crew noticed a fire burning unnoticed in a dense area of marsh and woods on the western side of the fire line approx. 1000 ft of the roadway. At this time Captain Townsend notified the command post of the situation and request additional support in the operation. Brush 47 - Farmington and Engine 57 - South Bowers both arrived as support for Brush 730. After stretching all 500 ft. of forestry and booster line off Brush 730, Captain Townsend advised they could not reach the fire and needed an additional 100-200 ft of hose line and that the fire was growing. Deputy 89 had arrived on location of this operation and made a request for additional support which brought, Millsboro Engine 833 & Brush 830, Rehoboth Beach Brush 86, Little Creek Brush 54, Harrington Engine 50, Milton Tanker 85, Marydel Tanker 56. After an intense and aggressive attack through marsh Deputy 89 advised command that this fire and been extinguished and all units were available for redeployment. At this time Brush 730 was sent to staging for rehab and refueling, but was soon redeployed to assist in a back burn along the northern edge on the fire in an attempt to keep it from jumping the main road to Slaughter Beach. At 1211 hrs on Monday morning 89 Command advised the Sussex County Command Post that the incident was under control and could begin releasing units. Brush 730 cleared the scene around 1222 hrs. and was in quarters and available at 0105 hrs.