UPDATE Thursday, Oct. 5
La Plata, MD – Fire that investigators believe started in a car parked in an attached garage resulted in heavy damage to a Charles County House Wednesday, Oct. 4. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze at a two-story home on Durham Court in La Plata was discovered at approximately 4:51 p.m. by a neighbor. The house is owned and occupied by Bruce and Mary Jean Kirk.
The vehicle was identified as a Toyota Corolla. Damage to the house and vehicle is estimated at $50,000. There were no injuries reported.
“The fire occurred inside the attached garage,” a deputy fire marshal reported. “The family was displaced as a result of the fire and is being assisted by the American Red Cross.”
The Maryland Fire Marshal’s Office has not divulged how the vehicle caught on fire, but has ruled the blaze an accident.
Fifty firefighters from Charles County volunteer companies responded to the one-alarm blaze and brought the flames under control in 15 minutes. Police closed a portion of Mitchell Road—the access road to the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland—near Durham Court for approximately two hours while crews were at the scene.
UPDATE Wednesday, Oct. 4, 7:20 p.m.
La Plata, MD – A two-story house located near the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland was heavily damaged by fire Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4. The blaze was reported shortly before 5 p.m. Charles County authorities closed a portion of Mitchell Road and Durham Court while crews battled the flames. Preliminary reports indicated the blaze originated in an attached garage. No injuries were reported. The occupants of the home have been displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Crews responding to the scene included volunteers from Marbury, Potomac Heights, Indian Head, Bel Alton, Waldorf, La Plata and Bryans Road.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative were also dispatched to the scene. An official report on the incident is pending.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
La Plata, MD – Shortly before 5 p.m. Charles County authorities reported a house fire on Mitchell Road. Crews at the scene report seeing flames through the roof. Mitchell Road has been closed to traffic. Motorists should avoid the area until further notice.
Reports from the scene indicate all occupants are out of the residence and safe. The Red Cross is en route to the scene to assist the displaced family.
