| Bay District Station 9 was alerted Monday morning for a house fire in the 38000 block of Manor Road in Chaptico, and Engine 91 responded as part of a multi-department assignment after 911 callers reported flames inside the residence.
The incident was dispatched at approximately 9:46 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026. Initial information came from a fire alarm activation, followed by confirmation that there was a fire in the sitting room. Emergency call takers instructed the occupants to leave the home and get to safety. A neighboring caller later reported that two people lived at the residence and that both were outside.
Crews arrived to find smoke showing from a two-story split-foyer residence, with fire visible from the rear of the home. Command was established, and firefighters began a coordinated fire attack while additional units responded from surrounding departments.
More than 30 firefighters from Seventh District, Mechanicsville, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Bay District, Bel Alton, and Newburg responded to the scene. Bay District Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 91 and Squad 3 were dispatched to the incident; Squad 3 was later canceled, while Engine 91 arrived and assisted with operations on the second floor and in the attic area.
Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines into the home and operated on both the first and second floors. Crews initially found fire on the first floor, with extension to the second floor and attic. Personnel worked from multiple areas of the structure, including the rear and second-floor divisions, to access and extinguish the fire.
At approximately 10:14 a.m., both occupants were confirmed to be accounted for, and crews reported that the remaining fire was isolated to the attic. Primary searches of the residence were completed and reported negative, confirming no one was found inside.
Firefighters encountered challenging conditions due in part to a metal roof that had been installed over an existing shingled roof. The layered roof system made the attic fire harder to reach and contributed to high-heat conditions as crews worked to open up concealed spaces and extinguish remaining hot spots.
A water supply point was established using a nearby pond off Route 234, north of Route 242. Firefighters also performed safety checks, monitored crew accountability, and continued overhaul operations to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
The fire was placed under control at approximately 10:50 a.m. No injuries were reported.
SMECO was requested to the scene and power to the home was secured. The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal was notified and responded to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. The American Red Cross was requested to assist three displaced adults.
Residents are reminded to make sure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of the home and inside sleeping areas. Smoke alarms provide early warning and can give occupants critical time to escape safely during a fire. |
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