Published: April 29, 2008 11:51 am      

McHenry rental home heavily damaged by fire

MCHENRY - Investigators of the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office are attempting to determine the cause of a Saturday morning fire that destroyed an unoccupied rental property in McHenry.

The 2:55 a.m. fire at 40 Springwood Acres was detected by a patrolling uniformed Maryland State Police trooper, who reported the incident in a 911 call to the Garrett County Department of Public Safety Division of Communications.

Approximately 30 volunteer firefighters responded to the fire inside the two-story wood frame, taking 50 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Initial reports from the trooper and firefighters indicated heavy fire at the front of the building.

Deputy State Fire Marshals Jamie Rodeheaver, Howard Ewing with his accelerant-detecting dog, Inez, and Jason Mowbray investigated at the scene. The investigation to determine the cause and origin of the fire is continuing.

The loss was estimated by the Fire Marshal's Office at $200,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents. The property, owned by Robert Willet of Clarksville, was insured, according to the Fire Marshal's Office.

Deep Creek, Accident, Bittinger and Oakland volunteer fire companies responded along with Northern Rescue Squad, according to the Fire Marshal's Office.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fire Marshal's Office at McHenry at (301) 387-0482.