The cause of a two-alarm house fire early Tuesday morning in Huntingtown remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshals office, as of this morning.
The fire kept volunteer firefighters from three Southern Maryland counties busy all night long. A total of 47 firefighters from 9 companies responded, including Deale and Galesville volunteer fire departments from Anne Arundel County, and Hughesville and Benedict crews came from Charles County.
The home that was at 151 Amber Lane was completely destroyed, causing and estimated $250,000 damage. It is owned by Darrel and Debra Knoll.
Firefighters began responding at 12:26 a.m. to find the house fully engulfed in flames and the family standing out in the street.
Deputy Fire Marshall J. Tennyson reports one firefighter sustained a minor burn to the right forearm. He was treated and released from the Calvert Memorial Hospital and returned to the scene.
By 12:38 a.m., the fire was burning too heavy for firefighters to save the structure, and all volunteers were ordered to exit the home and take up defensive positions outside. Moments later parts of the house collapsed.
It took several hours and more than 43,000 gallons of water to fully douse the flames.
As of 5:30 a.m. firefighters were finally clearing the scene. The house collapsed and was still smoldering and smoking.
Volunteers responded two more times later in the day to soak the smoking remains that rekindled.
The thousands of gallons of water caused a hazard as it turned to a sheet of ice near the scene. State Highway salt and sand trucks were brought in to help with the ice.
American Red Cross Southern Maryland Chapter arrived to help the displaced family of four and support the firefighters
Photo courtesy of Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department. Also see more at Dunkirk VFD.
