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Upwards of 100 firefighters from Cecil County, neighboring states and jurisdictions came together at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, to battle a blaze that broke out in the heart of town and refused to go down quietly, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal’s Office.
On Sunday afternoon, crews were called to West Main Street, at the intersection of North Street, where there was a fast moving fire that was quickly upgraded to two, then three alarms as it continued to spread wildly.
The fire left the famous four-story property - which has a history that dates back to 1853 - with extensive damage, as well as a neighboring building that houses Angelucci Bail Bonds and several apartments.
Investigators say that the fire originated in the back of the building, though it is unclear what caused it. The Fire Marshal did say that there is nothing to make it appear that it was an arson attempt, however.
Officials made note that the fire was initially discovered by an off-duty firefighter from Delaware who spotted smoke coming from the back of the building before jumping into action and attempting to use an extinguisher to knock down the flames before they spread.
“He remained on the scene and assisted in describing what he had seen and done, which allowed Deputy State Fire Marshals to focus their attention on a small area to determine the cause, which remains under investigation,” officials said. “No evidence has thus been found to indicate an act of arson.”
Nine people living in the nearby apartments have been displaced and are being assisted by members of the American Red Cross. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to Christiana Care Union Hospital for treatment.
The fire did an estimated $1.5 million in damage. The incident is now being investigated with an assist by members of the ATF.
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