Fire at Former Bainbridge Building Under Investigation

The Office of the State Fire Marshal continues to investigate a weekend fire in Port Deposit that took crews three hours to contain.

At 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, a blaze erupted at a vacant building at the former Bainbridge Naval Station, according to a report from the fire marshal.

Water Witch Volunteer Fire Company reported that its personnel cleared the scene at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday and returned Monday to handle hot spots.

The three-story mortar building, which spans 50 by 100 feet, was originally erected in 1901 as the Tome School for Boys, the report said. Sunday’s fire completely consumed the building, according to the fire marshal.

Water Witch was first called for a fire outside 15 South Main Street and instead saw flames throughout Memorial Hall, which overlooks the Susquehanna River from a bluff in Port Deposit.

Approximately 35 firefighters from Maryland and Pennsylvania responded, bringing the blaze under control within three hours, the fire marshal reported. The Level Volunteer Fire Company was among them, shuttling water using its tanker truck for several hours.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation, according to the fire marshal.

Anyone with information may contact the Northeast Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-836-4844 or call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-492-7529.

Photo Credit: Water Witch Fire Company. Memorial Hall fire on Sept. 21, 2014.