At 13:01 on Monday, September 26th, Engine 9-1, Deputy Chief 9, along with a medic unit and the deputy chief from company 79, responded to a single vehicle accident in the 21700 block of Leitersburg-Smithsburg Rd. Once on the scene Deputy Chief 9 found a Bronco had left the roadway and struck a utility pole. There were no injuries and Company 79 handled a patient refusal. Company 9 units remained on until Allegheny Power rep arrived. Roadway was closed approximately 5 hours for repair to the utility pole.

A single-story house on Leiters Mill Road was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon when flames quickly raced through the home, burning the roof off as spectators and family members watched.

Because flames had engulfed the house north of Hagerstown by the time firefighters arrived, the only thing they could do was battle it from the exterior, said Capt. Daniel Hawbaker of the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Co.

Robert Small said at the scene that he had been living at the 20854 Leiters Mill Road house since 1979.

Small said he and his wife, Betty, also own a farmhouse close by and the couple has been preparing to move into that house. In the meantime, Small and his wife were living in the one-story house with Small’s son, Small’s daughter-in-law and the couple’s 6-year-old son. Small said his daughter and his daughter’s 6-year-old son also lived in the house.

Small said the rest of his family had planned to live in the one-story house after he and his wife moved into the farmhouse.

Small said his son and daughter and the children were at the one-story house when it caught fire but no one was hurt.

“It only took me two minutes to get here. It was completely in flames and everything,” Small said.

It was unclear Sunday afternoon what started the fire, said John Bentley, chief of Washington County Special Operations.

The fire, which was reported at 4:38 p.m., was brought under control in about an hour, according to Bentley and Hawbaker, who was in charge of the scene. The house also had a full basement and an attached garage, Bentley said.

After the flames were brought under control, the house was charred across the front and the roof was gone.

Hawbaker said it was too early Sunday afternoon to determine a damage estimate.

About 56 firefighters worked at the scene, he said.

Mike Mowen, director of emergency services for the local American Red Cross, said Sunday night that his organization was assisting Small’s family.

The house fire was not far from another that occurred on Millers Church Road on March 2 that heavily damaged a single-story house.

A woman who lived in that house believed the fire was caused by a cooking accident.

Damage was estimated at $300,000 to a house that was destroyed by a fire Sunday on Leiters Mill Road near Hagerstown, the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said.

The fire also caused $100,000 in damages to the contents of the house, according to a state fire marshal's office press release.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday morning.

The fire started at about 4:35 p.m. on the front porch of a one-story home at 20854 Leiters Mill Road, the fire marshal¿s office said.

Fifty firefighters from fire companies in Washington County and Franklin County, Pa., took about 45 minutes to get the fire under control, the release said.

The Red Cross was called to assist five displaced residents of the home, the fire marshal's office said.

Copyright © 2011, Herald Mail

On March 4 at 0016 hours, Washington Co Communications alerted box 9-4 for the house fire at 20715 Millers Church Road. E92 DC9 responded with crew of 5. DC9 advised washington county that fire could be seen from the pike and requested FM. E92 DC9 aos to confirm fire through the roof. DC9 assumed Millers church road command and requested working fire dispatch along with tanker task force. Quint 27 aos to set up ladder pipe operations on side alpha. E92 crew deployed 1 3/4 attack line to side bravo. Crews from 27 and 13 deployed 3 inch blitz line to side charlie to the basement access. Crews found heavy fire in the basement. Crews had fire under control in about an hour. Units remained onscene until 0322. Maryland State Fire Marshalls Office is investigating the fire. Leitersburg was assisted by Longmeadow, Smithsburg fire and EMS, Maugansville, Funkstown, Mt Aetna, Greencastle, Waynesboro, Hag Eng.3, Community rescue, Rehab and air unit and special ops 20.

Crews returned to address for reported rekindle at 0724. Crews arrived to find smoldering debris. Crew used water can to extinguish. Units cleared at 0755.

March 3, Co 9 was alerted twice for automatic alarms at Antietam Ford Tractor and Equipment. Upon arrival at the second call, the property owner advised DC9 that he smelled smoke and saw smoke coming across the road at the previous house fire on March 2. DC 9 had Washington County Dispatch the engine co for investigation. Crews arrived onscene to find nothing. After investigation, it was determined that the smoke was from a neighbors chimney. Units cleared at 2208.

On March 2 at 1349 hours, Washington County Communications alerted box 9-4 for kitchen fire at 20715 Milllers Church Road. Upon response, DC9 was advised by washington county of reported kitchen fire. DC9 advised washington county smoke could be seen from Leitersburg Pike. Quint 27 arrived onscene and advised of working house fire. E92 DC9 arrived onscene DC9 assumed Millers Church Road command. Crew from Quint 27 advanced 1 3/4 attack line in the front door. Crews were able to make a quick knock down. Crews remained on scene til 1730 for overhaul and FM's investigation. FM ruled unattended cooking as reason for the fire. Crews from Leitersburg were assisted by Longmeadow, Maugansville, Smithsburg Fire and EMS, Mt Aetna, Funkstown, Hag. Eng 3, Rehab and air unit along with special ops 20. Units cleared the scene at 1730.

On Jan 8th at 2059 hours, Co. 9 was alerted to assist Franklin County Co 2 with garage fire. Rescue Engine 91 responded with crew of 5. RE91 aos to assist with fire suppression and overhaul. RE91 cleared the scene at 2247.

On Jan 7th at 0157 hours, Brush 9 was alerted to assist Frederick county on a brush fire on Church Hill Road. Brush 9 assisted with fire suppression. While crews were working to put the fire out, snow starting falling. Brush 9 cleared at 0301.

On Jan 6th at 1547 hours, Co. 9 was alerted for engine transfer to city Engine 3. Rescue Engine 91 stood by at Engine 3's quarters until 2142 hours.