Fire Department Media Release- February 28, 2019

Vacant Building Fire- Laurel

Date:  February 27, 2019

Time:  6:07 p.m.

Location/Address:  On First Street near Forest Haven Avenue, Laurel, MD 20724

Type of Incident:  Vacant building fire

Description of Structure/Property:  One-story abandoned detention center

Injuries or Deaths:  No injuries to responding personnel

Estimated Dollar Estimated Dollar Loss:  Undetermined

Smoke Alarm Status:  Undetermined

Assisting Fire Departments:  District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department

# of Alarms:  1 alarm # Of Firefighters:  34

Time to Control:  30 minutes

Discovered By:  NBC News 4 Washington helicopter

Area of Origin:  first floor

Preliminary Cause:  Under investigation by fire investigators from the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department

Additional Information:  Anne Arundel County Fire Communications was notified by the NBC News 4 helicopter of flames coming from a building on the grounds of the abandoned Forest Haven Asylum. Arriving firefighters identified the structure as the abandoned girl's detention center. A fire in one room was located and extinguished without extension to adjoining rooms. A search of the entire building was conducted by firefighters to ensure there were no occupants. The District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department was notified of the incident and a fire investigator responded to the scene.