Investigators say a fire caused by discarded fireplace ashes caused heavy damage Friday morning to a shed at a home in La Plata. The ashes were apparently discarded in a tree line near the shed at the Oliver Flake home on Kentucky Avenue.
Damage to the 10 by 20 foot shed is estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents. The fire was discovered by a neighbor. Firefighters from La Plata and Hughesville volunteer fire departments responded and brought the blaze under control in 10 minutes.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Don Brenneman investigated the incident for the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
