Photo courtesy of the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department
La Plata, MD – Two La Plata volunteer firefighters sustained non-burn injuries while helping fight a house fire in Charles County, state officials reported.
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze occurred Tuesday, Oct. 28 at a two-story, single-family home on Mallard Lane in La Plata. No one was home at the time. A neighbor discovered smoke coming from the residence and called 911.
“Responding fire departments discovered the rear of the house to be engulfed in flames,” stated Dfm. Don Brenneman.
The injured firefighters were treated and released at Charles Regional Medical Center.
The team of investigators—Brenneman, Dfm. John Nelson and Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Duane Svites—determined the fire was the result of an unattended candle igniting nearby combustible materials.
Over 50 firefighters from La Plata, Waldorf, Bel Alton, Marbury, Bryans Road, Newburg, Indian Head and Potomac Heights were dispatched to the scene of the one-alarm fire and had the flames under control in 25 minutes.
Damage to the home, whose owner was identified by Brenneman as Dedra De LaPaz, is estimated at $250,000.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com