September 16th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
MARYLAND STATE FIRE MARSHAL
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: September 14, 2019
Time: 1:25 pm
Location / Address: 1125 Hutton Road, Oakland, Garrett County
Type of Incident: structure fire
Description of Structure / Property: single-family ranch style home with attached two-bay garage
Owner / Occupants: James McBee
Injuries or Deaths: none
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $70,000 Contents: $30,000
Smoke Alarm Status: Present – did not activate due to dead batteries
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: not required
Arrests(s): none
Primary Responding Fire Department: Oakland
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 25
Time to Control: 40 minutes
Discovered By: occupant
Area of Origin: basement
Preliminary Cause: accidental
Additional Information: Tree cutting on adjacent property struck high tension electrical lines causing an overcurrent in to the McBee residence which ignited a fire. Damage to basement was extensive with smoke and heat damage to remainder of home. Occupants are displaced and being assisted by family.