Early Morning Electrical Fire Ravages Home in Parsonsburg

PARSONSBURG, Md. – The Powellville Volunteer Fire Department and other area departments responded to an electrical fire that destroyed a home on Monday morning.

At 6:34 a.m. on Dec. 8, crews responded to a two-story home at the 34000 block of Wango Road. The occupant reported hearing a “pop” before a passing motorist alerted him to a fire on the outside of his home.

A total of 45 firefighters worked to put out the blaze for 90 minutes. Additional responding departments included crews from the Pittsville, Salisbury, Parsonsburg, Willards, Gumboro, Berlin and Snow Hill fire companies.

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the fire to be accidental; the result of an electrical failure at an outlet on the front porch.

“The house fire this morning was quite devastating. I’m very upset for my neighbor; we woke up to fire trucks coming down the road from all over. I’m thankful that we have great firefighters here in this community in this area. It’s a unique old house; it’s been here since the early 1900s, I believe, and now, it’s gone, which is a loss to the area for the history,” neighbor Rachel Marshall said.

The total damage to the property and its contents is estimated at $110,000. The occupant and his dog were able to safely escape the home, and no injuries were reported.