Only Bricks Remain as Cool Hollow Road Home Burns, Investigation Underway

A three-story residence in Hagerstown, Maryland, was the scene of a substantial structure fire on April 12, 2026, with the cause now under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The blaze, which occurred at 20045 Cool Hollow Road, resulted in significant property loss and displaced three individuals.

The incident, reported around 12:19 p.m. in Washington County, required a substantial response from fire services, with 119 firefighters from various departments, including the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company, working for two hours to bring the flames under control. The fire originated in the garage of the three-story home, but the exact cause is still under investigation. While the smoke alarms within the residence did activate, sprinkler systems were not a factor in this incident.

The estimated financial impact of the fire is substantial, with the structure itself valued at $1,000,000 and the contents at an additional $500,000. The dwelling has been rendered uninhabitable. Fortunately the Red Cross was not necessary to provide services to the displaced residents.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a division of the Department of State Police that focuses on fire and explosion prevention through education, inspection, investigation, and fire protection engineering. Residents seeking more information on fire safety can contact 1-800-525-3124, visit the Maryland State Fire Marshal website, or engage with their Facebook page. An arson hotline is also available at 1-800-492-7529 for reporting suspicious fire activity. The preliminary cause of the fire remains undetermined as the investigation continues.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of the State Fire Marshal

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