Hagerstown Apartment Fire Ruled Accidental, Causes $20,000 in Damages

According to a Notice of Investigation released by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, a fire broke out at an apartment building located at 35 E. Baltimore Street in Hagerstown, Washington County, on the evening of August 19, 2026. The blaze, which was discovered by a passerby at approximately 10:01 pm, has been preliminarily determined to be accidental in nature, stemming from an electrical malfunction.

The fire originated in the living room of the two-story, wood-frame apartment building with a brick exterior. While no injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the incident, and no residents were displaced, the fire caused an estimated $20,000 in damages, with $5,000 attributed to the structure itself and $15,000 to the contents within the apartment. The smoke alarm within the affected unit was activated. The Hagerstown Fire Department responded to the one-alarm incident with 43 firefighters, bringing the blaze under control within 10 minutes of their arrival. The occupant of the affected apartment is reportedly receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, an agency of the Department of State Police, is committed to safeguarding citizens from fire and explosion hazards through education, inspection, investigation, and fire protection engineering. For further information on fire safety, individuals can contact 1-800-525-3124 or visit the Maryland State Fire Marshal website or Facebook page. The Western Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal can be reached at 301-766-3888 or via email at msp.osfmwro@maryland.gov. An arson hotline is also available at 1-800-492-7529.

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

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