Published: March 25, 2009 12:08 am      

Fires consume two county residences

Hot embers spark Flintstone blaze; fire marshals investigating Uhl Highway incident

CUMBERLAND — Fire that consumed a Flintstone residence Monday evening was caused by hot embers that ignited combustibles outside the single-story dwelling, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The incident occurred at about the same time as a fire that engulfed an unoccupied residence at 14008 Uhl Highway.

No injuries were reported in either incident.

In Flintstone, the Robert and Shirley Clites family was displaced by an accidental fire at their residence at 13201 Dry Ridge Road N.E. shortly before 8 p.m.

Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray determined the fire stemmed from hot embers from a wood-burning flue that ignited combustibles at the base of the residence.

The loss was estimated at $60,000 to the structure and $10,000 to its contents.

Approximately 25 volunteer firefighters from Flintstone, Baltimore Pike, Bedford Road and Clarysville responded after a neighbor discovered the fire and dialed 911.

The Clites family is reportedly being assisted by other family members.

The fire at the Larry Allen Ritchie property on Uhl Highway caused a loss estimated at $60,000 to the two-story frame dwelling and $5,000 to its contents.

The fire originated in the rear exterior covered porch but the cause has not yet been determined. The building was unoccupied and undergoing renovation.

A neighbor of the property discovered the fire that brought 30 volunteer firefighters from District 16, Wiley Ford, Oldtown, Baltimore Pike and Ridgeley to the scene for about six hours.

The 7:38 p.m. fire remains under investigation by the fire marshal’s office.

The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy Fire Marshals Jamie Rodeheaver and Keith Vanzant and K-9 Beth along with Mowbray, who oversees the Western Regional Office of the fire marshal’s office.