Local Fire Investigations

[Editor]

Date: 6/13/2017

Time: 4:45 am

Location / Address: 500 Charles Street, LaPlata, Md 20646

Type of Incident: Suspicious package

Description of Structure / Property: Local business

Owner / Occupants: Urgent Care Clinic

Injuries or Deaths: None

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $0 Contents: $ 0

Arrests(s): N/A

Primary Responding Fire Department: LaPlata VFD

# of EMS Staff: Standing by # Of Firefighters: 6

Discovered By: Cleaning crew

Nature of Service Requested: Suspicious package

Action Taken/ Resolution: Investigated and rendered safe

Assisting Agencies: Charles County Sheriff's Office & LaPlata Town Police

Additional Information: A cleaning crew discovered a small plastic bag outside the main door of the clinic during the early morning hours. A quick look from the crew indicated a flashing light was coming from inside the bag and management from the closed clinic reportedly was not expecting any deliveries at that hour. The local police shut down the area and requested a response from the State Fire Marshal's Bomb Squad. Once Bomb Technicians were on scene and able to examine the item closer, it was determined to be a small bag of miscellaneous trash (including a small red LED light). The area was deemed safe by 5:30 am and all units cleared.

 

[Editor]

Date: 6-14-17

Time: 2:48 am

Location / Address: 38020 Lacey Family Lane, Chaptico, St. Mary's County

Type of Incident: Vehicle Fire

Description of Structure / Property: 2011 GMC Terrain (SUV)

Owner / Occupants: Robert G. Quade

Injuries or Deaths: None

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $15,000 Contents: $0

Smoke Alarm Status: N/A

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A

Arrests(s): None

Primary Responding Fire Department: Seventh District VFD

# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 5

Time to Control: 10 minutes

Discovered By: Passer-by

Area of Origin: Interior passenger compartment

Preliminary Cause: Incendiary - ARSON

Additional Information: At 2:48 A.M St. Mary's County dispatch received a call for a vehicle fully engulfed with fire along the road in front of the listed address. The owner of the vehicle has been contacted in regards to the fire. Anyone with further information is asked to call the Office of the State Fire Marshal- Southern Region at 443-550-6832.

 

[Editor]

Date: 6-21-17

Time: 12:51 am

Location / Address: 22628 Kinnegad Drive, Great Mills, St. Mary's County, Maryland

Type of Incident: Vehicle Fire

Description of Structure / Property: 2012 Chevrolet Express Van

Owner / Occupants: Robert Stevenson - Stevenson Contractors

Injuries or Deaths: None

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $7,000 Contents: $

Smoke Alarm Status: N/A

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A

Arrests(s): N/A

Primary Responding Fire Department: Bay District VFD

# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 4

Time to Control: extinguished upon arrival

Discovered By: Operator

Area of Origin: Driver's side door pocket

Preliminary Cause: Accidental

Additional Information: The accidental fire was caused by a carelessly dropped or discarded smoking material in the plastic driver's door pocket. The fire was contained to the cab area of the work van. The contents in the rear of the van were not damaged and there were no injuries.

 

[Editor]

Date: 6-21-17

Time: 9:36 pm

Location / Address: 1 Hickory Lane, Apartment 1, LaPlata, Maryland

Type of Incident: Burn Injury

Description of Structure / Property: LaPlata Manor Apartment's Senior Community

Owner / Occupants: Barbara Burch

Injuries or Deaths: 1 adult female and burn injuries

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $0 Contents: $50

Smoke Alarm Status: None

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: None

Arrests(s): N/A

Primary Responding Fire Department: LaPlata VFD

# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 20

Time to Control: 1 minute

Discovered By: Occupant

Area of Origin: Smoking material and oxygen tubing

Preliminary Cause: Accidental

Additional Information: The accidental fire which resulted in 1 female burn patient was the result of the victim smoking while using home oxygen. The apartment sustained very minor local damage to where the victim was sitting and the victim was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Burn Center where she is being treated for her non life threatening burns to her hands.

 

[Editor]

Date: 6-21-17

Time: 1:23 pm

Location / Address: 5305 Piney Church Road, Waldorf, Charles County, Maryland

Type of Incident: Debris Fire

Description of Structure / Property: St. Charles High School grounds

Owner / Occupants: Charles County Board of Education

Injuries or Deaths: None

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $0 Contents: $50

Smoke Alarm Status: N/A

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A

Arrests(s): None

Primary Responding Fire Department: No response

# of Alarms: n/a # Of Firefighters: n/a

Time to Control: 5 minutes

Discovered By: School staff members

Area of Origin: Open field behind the school

Preliminary Cause: Incendiary

Additional Information: The Incendiary fire was the result of unknown suspect(s) intentionally setting fire to multiple combustible items piled along the woods and a school field line at St. Charles High School. Witnesses or anyone with information about this debris fire is asked to call the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, Southern Region at (443)-550-6834.