No one was injured in a house fire that broke out in the 38000 block of Manor Road in Chaptico on Monday, Aug. 24, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal, which has determined the cause to be a malfunctioning electrical appliance.
The fire was reported around 9:44 a.m. Two occupants inside the single-family home were alerted by working smoke detectors and escaped without injury; the blaze originated on the first floor. The Fire Marshal’s office estimates $100,000 in damage to the structure and $50,000 in contents, for a total loss of roughly $150,000. Occupants are being assisted by family members.
Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department was the primary responding department, with roughly 50 firefighters ultimately operating on scene. According to 7th District’s account, Chief 5B arrived to find fire showing from the rear of the home. Engine Tanker 54 laid a supply line from the driveway and pulled a hand line to the house; Engine 73, which had been clearing a vehicle crash in Mechanicsville, arrived shortly after and pulled an additional attack line.
Truck 1 positioned on the front of the structure to assist with ventilation and search the home. A water-draft site was set up at a pond at Belmont Farms, with tanker crews shuttling water to the scene. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to investigate.
Hollywood VFD, dispatched alongside Mechanicsville units, reported arriving to find smoke showing from all four sides of the home and fire visible from the rear. Engine 73 stretched a second attack line through the front of the house to begin fire attack on the first floor, while Truck 7 — the second-due ladder company — was reassigned from the first floor to the second to assist with extinguishment.
Mechanicsville VFD’s Truck 1 crew placed ladders and deployed its aerial device, then was assigned to open the ceiling and clear the attic space to reach fire that had extended there. The same crew conducted a primary search of the second floor with negative results, meaning no occupants were found. Engine Tanker 14 supplied roughly 2,000 gallons of water to the fireground.
Fire was placed under control in about an hour, per the Fire Marshal’s report; crews remained on scene longer for overhaul and mop-up, with 7th District reporting units returned to quarters at approximately 12:30 p.m. The Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate.
Anyone with additional information can contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal at (410) 414-3600.
