Rental Unit At Lake Destroyed By Fire

May. 1, 2008
The cause of a fire that destroyed an unoccupied rental property in McHenry early Saturday is the focus of an investigation by personnel from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.
The loss was estimated by investigators to be $200,000 to the 1½-story wood-frame structure, plus another $20,000 in loss of contents.
Volunteers from the Deep Creek, Accident, Bittinger, and Oakland fire departments were summoned to 40 Springwood Acres at 2:55 a.m. after a Maryland State Police officer saw the fire and called the Garrett County Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management (911).
Approximately 30 firefighters battled the blaze, which took an estimated 50 minutes to bring under control. The property is owned by Robert Willet of Clarksville, who did have insurance, according to the fire marshal's report.
Also responding was the Northern Rescue Squad. There were no injuries reported.
Investigation into the cause of the fire is being conducted by Deputy State Fire Marshal Jamie Rodeheaver, Howard Ewing with his accelerant-detecting dog Inez, and Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray. Persons who may have information about the incident are asked to telephone the fire marshal's office at McHenry at 301-387-0482.