May 18th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
MARYLAND STATE FIRE MARSHAL
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: May 18, 2017
Time: 6:19 a.m.
Location / Address: 13138 Draper Road, Clear Spring, Washington County
Type of Incident: structure fire
Description of Structure / Property: one-story wood frame single-family dwelling
Owner / Occupants: Joseph and Pamela Chaney
Injuries or Deaths: none
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $250,000 Contents: $100,000
Smoke Alarm Status: present and activated
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: not required
Arrests(s): none
Primary Responding Fire Department: Clear Spring
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 60
Time to Control: 40 minutes
Discovered By: occupants
Area of Origin: exterior porch
Preliminary Cause: accidental – charcoal grill embers
Additional Information: Family had been grilling on the porch the evening before when the grill tipped over and spilled smoldering charcoal embers. Occupants extinguished the embers with water but it appears the fire resulted from some live embers under the porch that failed to be extinguished and continued to smolder. The occupants are displaced and are being assisted by family.