Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Company 3 responded to two working house fires in Charles County within seven hours on January 21, 2026, with the first in the 3500 block of Catskill Street and the second in the 2700 block of Moran Drive.
The initial call came at approximately 5:47 a.m. to the 3500 block of Catskill Street in Waldorf’s Brentwood community. Units arrived to find fire showing from the garage of a two-story single-family home. Company 3 advanced a hose line to the second floor for extinguishment. The fire damaged the structure and displaced two residents, with no serious injuries reported. Forty-nine Fire/EMS personnel from multiple Charles County units assisted in the response. Officials indicated a space heater may have sparked the blaze, though the State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the cause.
Hours later, at approximately 12:31 p.m., Company 3 was dispatched first-due to the 2700 block of Moran Drive for a report of an outlet smoking. The call upgraded to a house fire shortly after. Crews arrived to discover active fire in a room inside the home and extinguished it. No additional details on injuries, displacements, or cause were released for the second incident.
Both fires occurred in Waldorf, a key residential area in Southern Maryland’s Charles County, highlighting the demands on volunteer fire companies during busy periods. Company 3, part of the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, serves as a primary responder in the region, handling structural fires alongside mutual aid partners. The back-to-back calls required sustained effort from volunteers amid winter conditions that can complicate responses.
The Catskill Street fire drew significant resources due to visible flames and potential extension to living areas. Firefighters’ quick interior attack limited spread, though displacement occurred. The Moran Drive incident, starting as a smaller electrical concern before escalating, was contained rapidly once crews identified the room involved.
These events align with ongoing fire risks in residential areas during colder months, when heating devices see increased use. Charles County Volunteer Fire and EMS coordinates responses across the county, with Waldorf companies frequently handling such incidents in densely populated communities.
No injuries were noted in either fire based on available reports. Investigations into causes continue where applicable, per standard protocol.