Four firefighters hurt in Washington College IT Center Fire
CHESTERTOWN, MD. – Four firefighters were injured a fire which destroyed a leased structure across from the main campus of Washington College in Chestertown, Md. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the fire which occurred at Washington College in the late evening hours of Saturday, August 15th. Investigators were alerted to a fire at 515 Washington Avenue of Chestertown in Kent County where Washington College leased the commercial property.
The structure was a one story building with a brick exterior and wood frame interior, approximately 15,000 square feet in size. The building was utilized by the college for administrative purposes, primarily the finance and IT departments. The fire destroyed the unoccupied building and its contents leaving the estimated damages around $3.5 million.
The fire was discovered by an employee at a nearby business establishment, and 911 was alerted shortly after. Fire departments from around the region assisted Chestertown Vol. Fire Department and were dispatched to the fire at 7:53 pm. The fire was controlled in about 2 ½ hours by over eighty firefighters who responded to the four alarm fire. Four firefighters sustained minor illness and injuries during fire suppression; all have been treated and released from medical attention. The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time. Anyone with information in reference to this fire is asked to call the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-713-3780.
The fire was discovered by an employee at a nearby business establishment, and 911 was alerted shortly after. Fire departments from around the region assisted Chestertown Vol. Fire Department and were dispatched to the fire at 7:53 pm. The fire was controlled in about 2 ½ hours by over eighty firefighters who responded to the four alarm fire. Four firefighters sustained minor illness and injuries during fire suppression; all have been treated and released from medical attention.
