Two Weekend Carroll County Fires Under Investigation

Two fires caused about $5,200 worth of damage in two homes in Westminster over the weekend, according to a statement from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

On Saturday at 2 p.m., a fire broke out at a single-story, two-family house in the 3200 block of Main Street in Manchester, according to the release. Two adults and their three children live in the home, but no one was injured in the fire, according to the release.

The owner discovered the fire, according to the statement. 

One side of the house was damaged on the outside, according to the statement; the damage was estimated at about $200. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

On Sunday just after 12:15 a.m., the Westminster Fire Department responded to a fire in the unit block of Court Street in Westminster, according to the statement. The building, a three-story wooden structure, has offices in front and apartments in the back.

The fire started near the exterior side of the building; there were no injuries, but the fire caused about $5,000 in damages, according to the statement.

A passerby discovered the fire, according to the statement. 

Ten firefighters responded to the one-alarm, which took about 10 minutes to get under control. 

The preliminary cause of the fire is “incendiary;” according to the State Fire Marshal, “if a fire is determined to be incendiary, Deputy State Fire Marshals will conduct a criminal investigation and arrest those individuals identified a being responsible for the criminal act.”

The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate both fires.

The State Fire Marshal's Office asks anyone with information on either fire to call 410-871-3050.