FAIRPLAY -- Because of heavy damage from the fire, it will probably take extra time to determine the cause of an early-morning blaze Tuesday that consumed a one-story house on Reichard Road, a Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co. spokesman said Tuesday night.
Sgt. Brian Chaney said the roof of the house at 8241 Reichard Road had collapsed into the foundation when he arrived and only exterior walls were standing.
Chaney said a Maryland State Fire Marshal official told him that the fire marshal's office will probably need heavy equipment to move debris before they can make a determination of the cause.
Fire officials said the blaze at the home of Efrain Martinez and Kristine Hillyard caused $1 million in damages. The owners were out of town when the fire started, Chaney said.
