CUMBERLAND — The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is assisting the Cumberland Fire Department fire marshal’s office with the investigation into two house fires Sunday evening on West First Street in the South End, according to the Allegany County Joint Communications Center.
The first call was received to the Joint Communications Center just after 8:30 p.m. reporting an abandoned house across the street had smoke coming out of the second-floor windows, the Joint Communications Center spokesperson said.
Cumberland Fire Department and mutual aid units were dispatched for this incident.
“When the crew supervisor arrived on scene (and) saw smoke from the second building, they investigated, finding a fire,” Fire Chief Steve Grogg said.
He added that the buildings were at 18 and 30 W. First Street, both in vacant structures with small fires and minimal damage.
No injuries were reported.
Units from Cumberland, Ridgeley, Bowling Green, Shaft, Bedford Road, Cresaptown, LaVale, Wiley Ford, Rawlings, Allegany County Department of Emergency Services and a DES EMS supervisor responded to the incident.
The Joint Communications Center spokesperson said some units were redirected to Cumberland Fire Department headquarters to cover calls while units remained at the fire scene.
Approximately 25 firefighters operated on the scene until just after 10 p.m.
West First Street in the area of Virginia Avenue was closed during this time, according to the Joint Communications Center.
The state fire marshal’s office is in charge of the investigation, Grogg said.
Cumberland Police Department responded and assisted with closing streets in the area to allow for fire department units to access the scene.
Todd Bowman is a local and national journalist specializing in public safety news. Follow his work on all social media platforms @BreakingBowman.