MECHANICSVILLE, Md. – On December 28 at approximately 3:00 a.m., the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire located on Aviation Yatch Club Road in Mechanicsville. According to the report, the family dog alerted the homeowners, Charles and Wendy Seifert, to the fire just before 3:00 a.m. The family made it out of the house safely with a minor foot injury reported by the homeowner.
Fifty firefighters responded to the call and were able to control the fire in a half-hour. Upon further investigation, the cause of the fire was found to be a malfunction within the pellet stove located in their family room. Smoke detectors were present in the home but the homeowner was unsure if it operated. The estimated cost of damage from the fire is $140,000 for the structure and $40,000 for its contents. The family is being assisted by the American Red Cross.