Fire heavily damages apartment building in Hagerstown, 11 displaced but no one hurt

Fire heavily damaged a three-story apartment building near downtown Hagerstown on Sunday afternoon, but no one was hurt, authorities said.

Hagerstown Fire Marshal Dale Fishack said the two-alarm blaze at 234 Summit Ave. displaced 11 people who later were being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Three of the building's seven units were occupied and the other four were undergoing renovations, Fishack said at the scene Monday morning as he and other fire officials began their investigation into the cause.

The on-scene examination of the building wrapped up Monday afternoon, Fishack said, with investigators planning to interview more witnesses and examining other evidence before determining a cause.

Stacey Reese, whose lives in an apartment building that fronts the rear of the burned structure with a yard between them, said she heard popping noises, looked out her front door and saw fire in the single basement apartment at the rear of the building.

Flames quickly spread up the wooden porches at the rear of the building's three floors, she said.

"It literally took the first floor and then went whoosh and that was it, maybe in a matter of minutes, if that," she said. "It was pretty scary."

Reese said her door got hot and she feared for her and her 11-month-old baby's safety, but the 911 operator assured her that she would be safer inside.

"By the time I got off the phone with her the firefighters were already here," she said.

A Washington County 911 supervisor said firefighters arrived within 2 to 3 minutes of the initial report at 4:37 p.m.

About 100 personnel from Washington County and Franklin County, Pa., were at the scene for about four hours, and an engine and crew from Hagerstown stayed overnight on firewatch in case the blaze rekindled, he said.

Hagerstown firefighters were joined at the scene by personnel from Funkstown, Halfway, Longmeadow, Leitersburg, Williamsport, Community Rescue Service and Franklin County units from Waynesboro, Greencastle and New Franklin. The Washington County Division of Emergency Services' air and rehab units were also there, the supervisor said.

Reese suggested making donations to the Red Cross to help those displaced by the fire.

"Anything would help because they don't have anything to come back to," she said Monday morning.

Later in the day, Reese found herself getting assistance from the Red Cross.

Her building was without water because of the fire, and the city building inspectors office told those residents they would have to relocate as a result, Fishack said.

Fishack reminded city residents to make sure they have working smoke detectors.

"It's your earliest warning to get out," he said.

Any city resident who needs help with smoke detectors can call the Hagerstown Fire Department office at 301-790-2476.

Fishack also said that space heaters should be 3 feet away from combustible materials and used without extension cords.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: No injuries after fire at 3-story apartment building in Hagerstown