By Martin Weil August 17
Chestertown, Maryland
A college building on Maryland’s Eastern Shore was destroyed by fire over the weekend, and damage was estimated at about $3.5 million, the state fire marshal’s office said.
The fire broke out in Chestertown, in a 15,000 square foot building that was leased by Washington College, the office said.
The one story brick and wood frame building was used for administrative purposes, primarily the finance and information technology departments, according to the fire marshal. It was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
The blaze was reported shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday and was brought under control in about two and a half hours. The cause remained under investigation on Sunday, officials said.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office says a fire that destroyed a building at an Eastern Shore college started in a plastic smoker’s receptacle outside the building.
Saturday’s fire caused $3.5 million in damage at Washington College in Chestertown. The Fire Marshal’s Office says surveillance video shows that the blaze began in the receptacle spread to mulch and vegetation before reaching the building, which was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Some 80 firefighters battled the blaze for 2 ½ hours.
//////////////---------////
Fire destroys college office building
PHOTO BY DANIEL DIVILIO
Washington College fire
Firefighters battle a blaze at 515 Washington Ave. in Chestertown Saturday, Aug. 15. The building housed Washington College's business and information technology offices.
Location
515 Washington Avenue Chestertown MD
Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2015 1:45 pm | Updated: 8:25 pm, Mon Aug 17, 2015.
By DANIEL DIVILIO ddivilio@thekentcountynews.com
CHESTERTOWN, MD
What eyewitnesses say started as a small ground fire at a Washington College office building Saturday, Aug. 15 grew to a four-alarm blaze that took hours for firefighters to get under control.
The four-alarm fire broke out at 515 Washington Ave., home of the college's business and information technology offices. It drew firefighters from surrounding counties and as far away as Dover, Del.
The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal determined that the fire started in a plastic smokers receptacle outside the building, according to a news release. Fire marshals said the blaze destroyed the 15,000 square-foot building, causing about $3.5 million in damage.
"Investigators were able to review video surveillance and discovered the fire extended from the receptacle to mulch and vegetation before extending to the building," the release states.
Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company officials said in a news release that four firefighters suffered minor injuries or other medical issues as a result of the fire. They were reportedly taken to Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, where they were treated and release.
In an online posting, college officials said no campus personnel were hurt.
"We are extremely grateful to the many first responders from both Maryland and Delaware for their personal courage in combatting the blaze, and we wish a speedy recovery to the four firefighters who suffered minor injuries at the scene," College President Sheila Bair said in a statement issued Sunday, Aug. 16.
Washington College leases the building, which is located across Washington Avenue from the main campus area. Records from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation list Franklin T. Hogans Sr. as the owner of 515 Washington Ave.
Several witnesses said they called 911 just before 8 p.m. According to the CVFC release, the first units arrived at 7:54 p.m.
“Upon arrival, units were met with visible fire involving the structure on the front corner of the building. The initial attack knocked this fire down. Entry into the building was forced, at which time it was discovered that fire had penetrated the interior. Personnel aggressively worked to control the fire inside,” the release states.
Fire company officials said that inside the building, firefighters were challenged by multiple roofs, drop ceilings, concealed spaces and other issues resulting from a number of building modifications made over the years. These issue led to the need for additional personnel and equipment, escalating the situation to a four-alarm fire, the release states.
Joining the engines were several tower trucks that deposited firefighters on the roof of the building. With firefighters going in and out and the fire still burning, Chestertown Fire Chief Bruce Neal cleared the building at about 8:45 p.m., ordering hoses to drown it.
“Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the fire affected the integrity of the roof. This necessitated the evacuation of the building at which time evacuation tones and apparatus air horns were sounded. Once all personnel were clear of the building and the fire had vented through the roof, elevated master streams were deployed,” the release states.
The tower trucks dowsed the building from above, while other firefighters hosed the building from street level. At 10 p.m., flames were still shooting up from the roof as reinforcements from additional fire companies continued to arrive on the scene.
“Eventually, the fire was darkened down and firefighters were able to reenter the structure and continue interior operations,” the CVFC release states.
The fire marshal's office reported that more than 80 firefighters responded to the scene.
A public safety officer for Washington College was parked in the lot of the destroyed building at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. He said fire command placed the blaze under control at 1 a.m. — about five hours after the first calls came in. He said firefighters cleared the scene about an hour later and state fire marshals left at 3 a.m.
Aftermath
In an Aug. 16 news release, college officials said they are assessing the situation and working to ensure "smooth continuity" for the coming school year. New students report for orientation Aug. 27 and classes start Aug. 31.
Blair said the campus community was relieved that there were no serious injuries, nor a loss of essential functions.
“I also want to thank the many Washington College staff members who are stepping up to make sure services for students and staff alike will continue uninterrupted. We absolutely will be ready for our new and returning students when they start arriving next week,” she said in a statement.
Mark Hampton, the college’s vice president for finance and administration, said he expected no significant disruption of primary services such as student technology, Internet access, payroll and day-to-day business transactions.
“The good news is that, thanks to good planning and back-up systems, we are in very good shape despite the devastating nature of the blaze,” Hampton said in a statement.
College officials reported no damage to electronic student records and no service disruptions for students, faculty and staff. The full extent of the damage, though, is still being assessed.
"The primary short-term challenge is finding new office and workspaces for the 24 employees who worked in the building. Officials expected to be able to find on-campus spaces for the fall semester, and to seek new rental space for the longer term," the release states.
At the Scene
Umair Mir, manager of the College Heights Citgo gas station located next door to the office building, tried to put the fire out when he first saw it. He said it was small, like a brush fire caused by a smoldering cigarette.
"The fire was little," Mir said.
Mir said the fire started by a small street sign in the parking lot. Using water and several fire extinguishers to try to put it out, Mir said the flames leapt up at him at one point.
"It pushed me back," he said.
He and a friend made separate calls to 911 at 7:51 p.m. after having exhausted their supply of extinguishers.
"It was crazy," Mir said.
Two Rita's Water Ice workers across the street also called in the fire. Ashley Penny, who graduated from Kent County High School this year, and Jordan Perez, a rising KCHS senior, said they watched the first flames rise up from the ground.
"There were flames going up the pillar," Penny said.
The teens called 911, but when they learned one of their customers was a firefighter, they handed the phone over to him.
"It was bad," Perez said of the scene.
Andrew McCown, of Echo Hill Outdoor School, said he was driving near the building when he saw smoke and flames. He turned and headed back toward the building.
"The flames coming out of the roof were pretty active," he said.
McCown was at the scene when the first fire truck arrived. He helped run hoses to a fire hydrant across the street.
The fire was the worst Chestertown Police Lt. John Dolgos has seen since in years. He said there had not been one like it since a 1992 blaze consumed the McCrory's five and dime store on High Street, where Dunkin' Donuts is now.
As the fire wore on, a number of Washington College personnel arrived on scene, including Chief of Staff Joe Holt, Vice President for Finance and Administration Mark Hampton and Director of Physical Plant Reid Raudenbush. College accountant Robyn Moore watched as her office burned.
Holt said it looked like all there would be left to do with the building once the fire was out was to board it up.
According to the CVFC, the building previously housed a tractor and farm equipment company, a car dealership, a restaurant and night club, an insurance agency and a real estate office.
Anyone with information about the fire should call the fire marshal’s office at 410-713-3780.