At 6:04 am on Thursday, November 30, 2023, the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, along with multiple mutual aid companies, was dispatched to the working structure fire in the 200 block of Devon Drive. This is located in the Coventry Farms development, which is off (Maryland 514) Flatland Road. Multiple 9-1-1 callers were reporting a residential dwelling well-involved with fire. Based on information received from Chestertown Police Department officers, who were already on the scene when our first engine responded, a second alarm was requested and dispatched.
First arriving found a two-story, single-family dwelling 100% involved with fire. It was evident the fire had been burning undiscovered for an extended period. The roof had already fallen in, followed by the second floor just before the arrival of our first engine. The extent of the fire, and the condition of the structure, precluded any chances of executing interior firefighting operations. Our first engine went immediately to a Master Stream operation, hitting the fire with the top mounted deck gun.
At first, all potential occupants were unaccounted for. It was later determined there had been no one home at the time of the fire. There were no pets inside.
With a full basement and the first-floor surface burned away, it was impossible to send crews into the structure for overhaul / mopping up operations. For the safety of all personnel, all operations were conducted either from the exterior with hand-held hose lines, and from above, using the Master Streams on the bucket of our Tower Ladder.
The fire was declared under control at approximately 6:30 am, and our crews were on-scene for about four hours. There were 40 firefighters on the scene, with 18 of those from Chestertown VFC. There were no injuries. Delmarva Power came to the scene to “pull the electric meter”, disconnecting the electric service. The fire marshal was requested, and representatives with the Maryland State Fire Marshals Office came to the scene. This fire is under investigation, and no cause has been determined as of this release.
While we were committed to this incident, an engine from Millington stood by for us, first at the fire scene, then from our fire station. This was in case of another call in Chestertown’s first-due district. As it happened, they handled a medical assistance call. Many is our thanks to them for covering our district. Not all companies dispatched as part of the second alarm responded. It was determined we could handle the operation with the resources already on the scene, and with those that had marked up responding. Those companies that had not yet responded were placed in-service.
Once the homeowner arrived on the scene, we learned they did not require Red Cross assistance. They will be OK staying with family.
Companies and organizations dispatched and on scene….
Chestertown VFC
Community Fire Co. of Millington
Galena VFC
Kennedyville VFC
Betterton VFC
Rock Hall VFC
Church Hill VFC
Crumpton VFC
Sudlersville VFC
Kent & Queen Annes Rescue Squad
Kent County EMS
Chestertown Police Department
Kent County Sheriffs Office
Maryland State Police
Maryland State Fire Marshals Office
Delmarva Power
