Crystal Falls Drive resident homeless after blaze

October 31, 2007|ERIN JULIUS

HAGERSTOWN

A Hagerstown woman was homeless Wednesday after a fire Tuesday night destroyed her home on Crystal Falls Drive.

Firefighters responded to the fire at 9932 Crystal Falls Drive at 11:32 p.m. Tuesday after someone passing by noticed the fire and called 911, fire marshal Ed Ernst said Wednesday.

Grace Best, the only person living in the home, was at work when the fire broke out, Ernst said Wednesday afternoon.

No one was injured.

The fire started in the kitchen area of the log-cabin style home that was built in 1900, Ernst said.

Ernst estimated the fire caused $20,000 in damage to the home, which was a total loss, he said.

Best visited the Washington County chapter of the American Red Cross seeking help Wednesday morning, said Mike Mowen, disaster specialist for the chapter.

"She's trying to get her life back together," he said.

The Red Cross provided Best with a place to stay, food and clothing, Mowen said.

Best rented the home, which was owned by Lisa Stewart, according to the news release.

Best has rental insurance that will reimburse her for many of the things she lost in the fire, Ernst said. He estimated a $5,000 loss in contents of the home.

"Renter's insurance is not that expensive," he said. "It's in your best interest to get renter's insurance."

About 25 firefighters spent 30 minutes battling the blaze, the fire marshal said in a news release.

Units from Mount Aetna, Funkstown, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Leitersburg, Halfway, Wolfsville, Md., Myersville, Md., and the Washington County Air and Rehab unit responded.

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