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While most families were out preparing for a night of fireworks on the evening of the 4th of July, firefighters from Leitersburg along with Waynesboro, Longmeadow and Smithsburg were responding out for a report of a smoke coming from a building on Leitersburg Smithsburg Road. Washington County 911 took reports from a neighbor reporting smoke coming from their neighbor’s house.

Initial crews were immediately dispatched out for smoke coming from the structure at 20:37 hours. Engine 92 from Leitersburg Fire was the first arriving units to witness smoke coming from the eves of the roof. Engine 92 assumed Smithsburg Leitersburg Command. Firefighters from Leitersburg made entry to find the entire house fully charged with smoke. Upon further investigation, crews were able to locate the fire in the basement of the house. Command quickly requested the working fire assignment.

Firefighters on the scene were faced with a large fire in the confined areas of the basement. Firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control for nearly an hour. The fire was reported knocked down by command around 21:33 hours. Crews remained committed for an additional hour conducting overhaul operations before command was able to begin releasing units. All fire ground operations were complete and Command was terminated at 23:16 hours at which time remaining units began clearing the scene as they became ready. No information on the cause of the fire, which is under investigation by the State Fire Marshals office.

Longmeadow Fire Co.27, Smithsburg Fire Co.7, Waynesboro Fire Co.2, Maugansville Fire Co.13, Smithsburg EMS Co.79, Community Rescue Service Co.75, Washington County Special Operations 20, Emergency Air Unit 25, Rehab Unit 255 and the State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst (FM26) responded with Leitersburg Fire Co.9 to assist on the incident that evening. No injuries were reported and no one was home at the time of the blaze.