| In the early morning hours of Thursday, January 8, 2025, firefighters from across St. Mary’s County responded to a major house fire in the 42000 block of Fairgrounds Road in Leonardtown.
At approximately 12:41 a.m., emergency crews were dispatched following reports of a house on fire. A working fire dispatch was quickly requested after additional 911 callers reported the home was fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters from Leonardtown, Bay District, Hollywood, Seventh District, Second District, and NAS Patuxent River arrived to find a two-story residence with an attached garage heavily involved. Due to the intensity of the blaze, crews initiated a defensive operation, working from the exterior to bring the fire under control.
Additional personnel from Ridge, Solomons, and Mechanicsville fire departments were called in to assist on scene or to provide station coverage.
Firefighters successfully extinguished the fire within 1 hour and 20 minutes, with operations continuing for more than three hours to ensure all hot spots were addressed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the homeowners were not present when the fire began.
The home lost in the fire belonged to a Chief Officer with the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Bell. As one of their own faces the loss of his family’s home, the department and community have rallied together to offer support.
A donation portal has been established to help Chief Bell and his family during this difficult time. Those wishing to contribute can do so through the the link below.
The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is actively investigating the cause of the fire.
This incident is a powerful reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms and having a home fire escape plan. Make sure your smoke detectors are tested monthly and have fresh batteries.
For continued updates and fire safety information, follow your local fire department’s social media pages, and please consider supporting those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. |
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