City fire damages apartment building

February 11, 2002

City fire damages apartment building

A fire that broke out in a rear unit of a North Mulberry Street apartment building displaced at least one resident Friday night.

Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Ron Horn said the fire at 17-19 N. Mulberry St. caused heavy damage to the fourth-story efficiency unit where it started around 9:30 p.m.

The fire spread to the attic and a lower apartment, he said. Firefighters escorted one person out of the building who was unaware of the fire and another resident on the first floor initially refused to leave the building but later consented.

Firefighters walked through an alley and used ladders to access the rear of the large apartment building. They hauled lights up on ropes to illuminate the upper stories and attic.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control quickly and the rest of the building was not damaged, Horn said.

The building's electrical service didn't need to be turned off, and most of the tenants would be able to return later Friday night, he said around 10 p.m.

The fire drew residents from their homes on North Mulberry St. and the surrounding area to watch the firefighters in action.

Standing behind police tape, people looked up as smoke ascended from the rear of the building.

Hagerstown Fire Marshal Wayne Smith was investigating the fire, Horn said.

Horn was unsure how many units there were or the number of residents living in the building.

Fire Police and Hagerstown City Police responded to the fire to direct traffic and provide crowd control.

- Kimberly Yakowski

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