CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (July 10, 2014) – Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to investigate a building fire that occurred at the Charles County Public Schools Lifelong Learning Center located at 3155 John Hanson drive in Waldorf.
The Wednesday evening 6:15 p.m. two alarm blaze was brought under control by approximately 100 firefighters after nearly three hours of labor intensive work. Eighty occupants were inside the 18 classroom trailers when a reported lightning strike occurred. Shortly afterward, a haze of smoke began to enter the interior of the structures and all occupants evacuated without injury.
All 18 of the classroom trailers were heavily damaged during the blaze. Damage estimates for the structures and contents is valued at nearly $1,000,000. No damage was reported to the detached, John Hanson Middle School building. Investigators confirmed the fire started as a direct result of lightning striking the building and then continued to spread throughout the connected trailers. No injuries were reported during fire department operations.
Source: Office of State Fire Marshal