FROSTBURG: The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that the Sunday afternoon fire at 11205 Upper Georges Creek Road close to Cherry Lane is suspicious. When Shaft and Frostburg volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene, they discovered smoke and fire, but no one was home when the fire broke out at 1:15 p.m.
According to the fire marshal’s office, James Webber’s single-story building and its contents were estimated to have suffered a loss of $350,000 as a result of the incident.
Family dog manage to escape
According to Roger Bennett, the acting director of the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services and a veteran volunteer with the Shaft Volunteer Fire Department that oversaw the fire operation, a family dog managed to escape the fire unharmed.
The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, DES ambulances, and volunteer firefighters from Midland, LaVale, Mount Savage, and Eastern Garrett also provided assistance at the scene. A passing motorist found the flames.
The fire was started in multiple places, according to state fire investigators, who are urging anybody with information to contact 301-729-5544. After the Allegany County 911 Joint Communications Center sent out the warning, units were on the scene for three hours.