Chesapeake Beach, Md. — Firefighters battled a two-alarm blaze that heavily damaged a two-story apartment building on Gordon Stinnett Avenue early Monday, displacing about 25 residents with no injuries reported. The fire broke out around 6:36 a.m. on November 17, 2025, in the 3900 block, prompting a swift response from Calvert County fire and rescue crews amid gusty winds and dry conditions that heightened regional fire risks.
Crews arrived to find heavy flames venting from the roof of the structure at 3955 Gordon Stinnett Avenue, a multi-unit complex housing multiple households. A second alarm was struck to summon additional resources, including engines from neighboring stations in Prince Frederick and Dunkirk. Firefighters worked for several hours to knock down the flames, which spread across 14 apartments, rendering them uninhabitable. Smoke billowed thickly over nearby rooftops, visible from Route 4, as aerial operations supported ground efforts to contain the spread to adjacent units.
All occupants were accounted for after a coordinated evacuation, with responders conducting door-to-door searches to ensure no one remained inside. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office closed Gordon Stinnett Avenue between 38th Street and 40th Street to facilitate hose lines and equipment staging, urging drivers to use detours like Chesapeake Beach Road or Route 261. The closure lasted into midday, with partial reopening expected once overhaul operations cleared the scene.
Deputy State Fire Marshals from the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal arrived shortly after the initial call to lead the investigation into the fire’s origin and cause. Investigators conducted on-site interviews with residents and witnesses, examining debris for accelerants or electrical faults common in multi-family dwellings. No preliminary determination has been released, though officials noted the absence of immediate evidence pointing to arson. Full scene processing could extend through the week, involving forensic analysis at state labs in Pikesville.
Local authorities quickly activated support for those affected. The town of Chesapeake Beach, in coordination with Calvert County Department of Public Safety, prioritized resident accountability and sheltering. Impacted individuals who self-evacuated, such as to family homes, were asked to contact Kenneth Miller at 410-474-5332 or Kenneth.Miller@calvertcountymd.gov for head counts and needs assessments. The American Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region deployed caseworkers to provide immediate aid, including financial assistance for temporary housing and essentials. “In the days and weeks to come, the Red Cross will continue to work with our partners in Calvert County to assist affected residents and provide additional recovery resources to help them get back on their feet,” the organization stated in a release. Chesapeake Beach Town Administrator Dr. Samelia Okpodu, serving as public information officer, fielded relief inquiries at 667-486-1275 or sokpodu@chesapeakebeachmd.gov, linking families to vouchers for hotels and meals through the town’s emergency fund.
Broader recovery options in the area include the Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s individual assistance program, which covers uninsured losses up to federal limits following local declarations, and community referrals via Calvert’s Department of Community Resources at 410-535-1600, extension 8803. These services, honed from prior incidents, offer case management for rebuilding, with emphasis on installing smoke alarms — a requirement under Maryland’s Fire Prevention Code for multi-family units, mandating interconnected systems that alert all floors upon activation. Residents in similar complexes are advised to review annual inspections, as lapsed maintenance contributed to faster spread in past local events.
Gordon Stinnett Avenue has seen notable fires before, adding context to today’s response efficiency. In April 2019, a wind-driven blaze just blocks away destroyed multiple townhouses, claiming two lives — Wendy Welch, 52, and her daughter Stephanie Link, 13 — and displacing dozens before crews contained it after hours of battle. That incident, ruled accidental from discarded smoking materials, prompted stricter brush clearance ordinances and enhanced mutual aid pacts with Anne Arundel County departments. Earlier, a 1923 inferno threatened much of Chesapeake Beach’s resort core, sparked at a store and fueled by wooden boardwalks, leading to the town’s first formalized fire brigade. These events shaped modern safeguards, including the 2010 adoption of automatic mutual aid for alarms exceeding one unit, ensuring faster reinforcements from over 20 volunteer companies countywide.
Fire inquiries direct to the State Fire Marshal at 410-713-3780. As crews demobilize, the focus shifts to safe re-entry protocols: structural engineers will assess stability before any salvage access, typically within 48 hours if no hazards persist.