WALDORF, Md. — A two-story home at 2300 BLK of Progress Court in Charles County suffered $350,000 in damage from an accidental fire on March 20, 2025, at 4:01 p.m. The blaze, originating in the attic near the furnace, displaced owner James Powell, though no injuries were reported.
The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department deployed 48 firefighters, sounding one alarm and controlling the fire in 30 minutes. A neighbor spotted the flames and called it in. Smoke alarms were present and activated, alerting nearby residents, but the house had no fire alarm or sprinkler system. The damage—$300,000 to the structure and $50,000 to contents—rendered the home uninhabitable.
Fire crews were dispatched at 4:04 p.m. to the White Oak neighborhood. Engine 11 and Truck 1 took second-due roles, while Engine 12 covered the rear. Firefighters faced a stubborn fire in multiple void spaces, working until 5:45 p.m. to fully extinguish it. A separate La Plata crew handled an unrelated terrain rescue on the county’s west side during the incident.
Investigators determined the fire’s accidental cause stemmed from the furnace area, though further details are pending. The significant structural loss reflects the fire’s intensity in the attic, a common origin point for residential blazes. No arrests were involved, and the investigation continues.
