On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 1:02 am, the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched as automatic mutual aid to the 11900 block of Augustine Herman Highway (Maryland 213) for the Structure Fire. This location is in the middle of Kennedyville. We responded with Tower 6, Engine 6, and Tanker 6.
First arriving Kennedyville VFC units found a two-story vacant house nearly 100% involved, with an extreme exposure to the neighboring house on the Bravo (left) side. When checking that exposure for extension, fire was found in the attic. The structure where this fire originated, had burned earlier this year. That earlier fire was deemed suspicious and was being investigated.
Our Tower 6 was the first to respond with six members. Upon arrival, the Tower 6 crew split up. Two firefighters deployed an 1-3/4” hose into the exposure on the Bravo (left) side, in-order to handle the fire in the attic. The remaining three members pulled two addition 1-3/4” hose lines and began applying water to the main fire. (The Kennedyville VFC was already applying water, via a Master Stream, to the exposure on the Bravo (left side). Their goal was to cool that exposure, while at the same time alternately applying water (back & forth) to the fire building, trying to take some of the heat out of the main fire. Unfortunately, fire had already penetrated the attic of the exposure on the left side.) The exposure on the Delta (right) side was far enough away, and thus not threatened.
When our Engine 6 arrived, they dropped 800’ of 5” LDH (Large Diameter Hose) to a nearby hydrant and secured water to supply Tower 6. With a dependable water source in-place, the Tower 6 aerial was placed in service, and began hitting the fire with both bucket mounted Master Streams, making short work of the fire. Our crews operated for about two hours. Overall, there were no injuries to civilians or emergency personnel across the entire incident.
Because this is the second time this structure has burned, obviously this current fire is deemed suspicious. The Maryland State Fire Marshals Office responded and is actively investigating this, and the previous fire, as a possible arson fire. Fire Marshals are actively seeking to identify a person of interest seen on a nearby residential surveillance camera, running away from the fire. Anyone with information that might be pertinent to the investigation is urged to call the Fire Marshal’s Office.
