House fire causes $350k in damage, officials investigating

QUANTICO, Md. – A Tuesday night house fire in Quantico is now under investigation. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is working to determine the cause.

The fire was reported at 11:30, Tuesday night. The response time from the West Side Volunteer Fire Company was swift, getting the fire under control before it could spread to the nearby field or other houses.

Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal, Matt Stevens said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, however, they can’t rule out a common finishing product that was being used on the flooring in the home.

“What we have learned as a result of the investigation is they were using linseed oil to refinish the flooring,” said Stevens. “We’re not exactly sure how those linseed oil rags were disposed of, but linseed oil, as it dries, it can heat and then result in, what people know of as, spontaneous combustion.”

Stevens urged people to make sure your smoke alarms are properly working, as we get closer to summer and the dryer months.

“Make sure you do have working smoke alarms in your home, and there should be one on every level of the home, and one in or near sleeping areas,” said Stevens.