Firefighters from multiple Charles County stations responded to a garage fire early Jan. 21, 2026, in Waldorf, damaging a two-story single-family home and displacing two residents while causing no serious injuries.
At approximately 5:45 a.m., 49 Fire/EMS personnel were dispatched to the 3500 block of Catskill Street after multiple 911 callers reported smoke coming from a residential garage. All occupants had safely exited the home prior to the arrival of emergency units.
Crews encountered heavy smoke throughout the residence and confirmed active fire in the garage. Incident command was quickly established, and firefighters initiated suppression efforts, ventilation of the structure and checks for fire extension into living areas. Utility crews secured gas service to the home as a precautionary measure. Interior searches verified that no residents remained inside.
The fire was declared under control by approximately 6:20 a.m. Firefighters remained on scene to perform overhaul operations, ensuring all hot spots were extinguished and removing residual smoke from both floors of the home. One volunteer firefighter received on-scene medical evaluation for an unspecified condition, but no transport to a hospital was required.
Command personnel identified a space heater in the garage as a possible contributing factor, though the official cause of the fire has not been determined and remains under active investigation by fire officials.
The American Red Cross responded to provide immediate assistance to the two adult residents displaced by the incident. No structural collapse occurred, and the home sustained damage primarily in the garage area with smoke throughout.
This response highlights the ongoing risk of heating-related fires during winter months in Southern Maryland, where cold snaps increase reliance on supplemental heat sources. Charles County fire officials routinely emphasize safe use of space heaters, including placement at least three feet from combustibles, never leaving them unattended and ensuring proper electrical connections.
The incident occurred in a residential neighborhood in Waldorf, part of the growing Charles County area where rapid development has expanded single-family housing. Fire and EMS units from the primary responding stations cleared the scene later in the morning, returning to service.
No additional injuries were reported among residents or emergency personnel beyond the evaluated firefighter. The response involved coordinated efforts across Charles County Fire and EMS, reflecting standard mutual aid protocols for structure fires in the county.