Hagerstown Apartment Fire Displaces 12; Smoking Material Blamed

Twelve people were forced from their apartments in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland, on Sunday after a fire broke out on the fourth floor of a residential building. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the fire accidental and said it started with discarded smoking material.

What happened

The Hagerstown Fire Department was alerted just after 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, to an odor of smoke at the building on North Potomac Street. According to the Herald-Mail, the address is 302 N. Potomac St., at the corner of Randolph Avenue; a separate radio-traffic report from Tri-State Alert listed it as 300 N. Potomac St. Firefighters found a working fire in the fourth-floor apartments. A resident had discovered it, and crews had it under control in about 20 minutes. Fire officials said the first crews on scene kept the blaze from spreading further.

No injuries were reported. Tri-State Alert, drawing on dispatch traffic, said firefighters reported all occupants had evacuated, and that utility crews isolated electric meters on the fourth floor. Hagerstown police also flew a drone to help firefighters check parts of the building that could not be seen from the street.

Who was affected

The fire marshal’s office said 12 people were displaced, and the American Red Cross is helping them. Early coverage that morning had not yet counted occupants. The Herald-Mail referred to apartments, plural, on the fourth floor, while Tri-State Alert described a fire in one fourth-floor apartment, so the number of damaged units is not clear from the reports we reviewed.

Cause and damage

State fire marshal investigators concluded the fire began on a fourth-story rear porch. They determined the cause was discarded smoking material and classified it as accidental. Damage was estimated at $60,000: $50,000 to the structure and $10,000 to contents. The Tri-State Alert report, written while crews were still working, said the cause was under investigation, and the later findings come from the Herald-Mail’s report on the fire marshal’s determination.

Why upper floors are harder

A fire on the fourth floor means residents above or beside it may have fewer options than those at ground level. Stairwells become the main way out, and elevators should never be used during a fire. Renters on upper floors should walk their exit routes in advance, in the dark if possible, and know which stairwell is nearest to their door. Even a fire that crews control quickly can leave smoke and water damage that makes several units unlivable for a time.

What this means for renters

Fires started by discarded cigarettes are among the most preventable, and porches and balconies are common starting points because of mulch, potted plants, furniture cushions and trash. A few steps help:

• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a metal can with sand, and keep it away from anything that burns. Never use a plant pot; potting soil can smolder.
• Soak butts with water before throwing them away, and do not toss them off a balcony or into trash that may contain paper.
• Check your lease. Many leases and building rules restrict smoking or balcony use. Following them protects you and your neighbors.
• Keep your smoke alarm powered and tested, and know two ways out of your unit, including from the top floor of a walk-up.

Smoking materials are only part of the picture, but this fire is a reminder that a neighbor’s habits can cost you your home. Renters insurance with loss-of-use coverage can pay for temporary housing when a fire elsewhere in the building makes your unit unlivable. If you are displaced, ask the fire department for an incident number, talk to your landlord in writing about repairs and rent, and call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS if you need immediate help. Our apartment fire safety guide and first-72-hours checklist cover the next steps.