UPDATE, Monday, Nov. 24 – The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is still trying to determine the cause of a fire which completely destroyed a two-story framed house dating to the 1800s at 12280 Drew Place, Charlotte Hall in Charles County Saturday, Nov. 22 at 5:32 p.m.

(Note: this fire was originally reported as having occurred in Newburg.)

According to Dfm. John Nelson, the $250,000 fire to the property owned by Gilbert Bowling, originated in the interior rear of the structure. The fire spread through the entire house, which was completely destroyed.

The house was not occupied at the time of the fire. 

The fire took 45 volunteer fire fighters from Newburg, Bel Alton, Hughesville, La Plata, Waldorf, Mechanicsville and Cobb Island approximately one hour to bring under control.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Maryland State Fire Marshals Southern Region at 443-550-6833.

Newburg, MD – Thirty-nine volunteer firefighters valiantly fought but in vain to save a home at 12305 Drew Point, Newburg Saturday, Nov. 22.

William L. Smith, Jr., Coordinator/PIO, Charles County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, said the fire sadly destroyed a home built in the 1800s.

“The owner and his parents lived there,” Smith said. “The family went back three or four generations. The owner said they were trying to renovate the old house and he had been by earlier to turn on some sort of heating.”

Smith said firefighters from Bel Alton, Newburg, Hughesville, La Plata, Cobb Island and Waldorf found the home fully involved when they arrived on the scene.

“They fought the exterior fire,” he said, saying conditions were too intense on the interior.

Three local volunteer ambulance crews were also dispatched to the scene. Mutual aid from St. Mary’s County and King George, Va. Co. 2 also responded.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is en route to the scene.

More details will be provided as they become available.

Photograph Courtesy Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com