Press Release - January 11, 2004

Date:
January 11, 2004

Contact:
Robert Korb, Jr, CFI, CFPS - Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: (410) 632-5666 Ext.4; Email: rkorb@co.worcester.md.us

BERLIN HOME DAMAGED BY FIRE

"The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated a fire that damaged a home located at 505 Main Street in Berlin, Maryland. The son of homeowners Terry and Bill Baumgardner was home alone at the time of the 9:49 PM fire and reported smelling smoke coming from the second floor of the home. After a few moments of investigating where the smoke was coming from, the son exited the home and contacted his parents who in return dialed 9-1-1. First arriving units reported fire showing from the second floor on the southwest corner of the structure. Sergeant Jeffrey Lawson of the Berlin Police Department who is also a Lieutenant with the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, entered the structure without personal protective or respiratory equipment in an attempt to locate a family cat that was believed to have been in the home at the time of the fire. The family cat was not located in the house by firefighters and was suspected to have escaped safely. Firefighters from the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company quickly responded and contained the fire to the second floor room of origin. The second floor room where the fire originated was used as a home based day spa. Fire investigators from the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire to be accidental. The fire is believed to have been caused from a combustible material being placed too close to a baseboard heating device. No injuries were reported.

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For further information, the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office can be reached by calling 410-632-5666 or on the web at www.wcfmo.org.