LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Fire investigators are probing a blaze that destroyed an abandoned single-wide manufactured trailer in St. Mary’s County early Saturday morning, with the cause and origin still under review.
The fire occurred at 1:34 a.m. on January 31, 2026, at 21476 Suburban Drive in Lexington Park. The structure, described as a single-wide manufactured trailer located in a wooded area, was completely destroyed. No injuries or deaths were reported, and no residents were displaced. Estimated losses were listed at $0 for both structure and contents, consistent with the property’s abandoned status.
The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department served as the primary responding agency, dispatching 50 firefighters to the scene under a single-alarm assignment. Crews brought the fire under control in 30 minutes. A neighbor discovered the fire.
No smoke alarms were present in the structure, and fire alarm or sprinkler systems were not applicable. No arrests have been made.
The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, Southern Regional Office, is leading the investigation into the area of origin and preliminary cause, both currently listed as under investigation. Authorities are seeking information from the public to assist in determining how the fire started.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Southern Regional Office at 410-414-3600.
This event marks another structure fire in St. Mary’s County under scrutiny by fire marshals, who routinely examine abandoned properties for signs of arson or other factors. The location in Lexington Park, part of Southern Maryland’s growing residential and commercial corridor near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, underscores ongoing concerns about vacant structures in wooded or rural-adjacent areas. Abandoned trailers and homes can pose risks including unauthorized entry, vandalism, or ignition sources that spread to nearby vegetation or occupied properties.
The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, which covers much of the Lexington Park area, frequently responds to such incidents, often in coordination with state investigators. The quick containment limited potential spread, preventing injury or broader property damage despite the total loss of the trailer.
Fire officials emphasize public vigilance in reporting suspicious activity around vacant properties, particularly in regions where development and older housing stock intersect. The lack of smoke detection in the abandoned unit aligns with common findings in derelict structures, where safety features are absent or nonfunctional.
The investigation remains active, with no additional details released on potential accelerants, witnesses, or contributing factors at this time.
