Three-Alarm Fire Damages Popular Upper Marlboro Restaurant

While most of us were sound asleep, local firefighters battled a significant fire at a longtime staple of the Upper Marlboro community.

Tuckers Restaurant, established on Marlboro Pike since 1969, caught fire early Wednesday morning, according to a report by the Prince George’s County Fire Department. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and fire loss damages are still being estimated. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were alerted of the fire by a 911 call at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning claiming smoke was flowing out of the roof of Tuckers. An engine from Forestville Fire/EMS Station #823 was the first to arrive on the scene, quickly noticing much of the fire was located in the attic and near the roof, where the flames were still growing in intensity.

After 30 minutes of battling the blaze, firefighters were called out of the building due to fear of a potential roof collapse. They continued to fight the flames from outside the building, using “master streams” to provide high volumes of water. Firefighters perched themselves atop ladders to gain higher ground as they fought the fire from outside the structure.

Eventually, second and third alarms were sounded to attract more support to the scene. When all was said and done, more than 100 firefighters and medics were on hand.

Officials said the bulk of the fire was quelled by 5:10 a.m.

The Upper Marlboro community didn’t take long to begin grieving the loss of Tuckers on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

One commenter wrote:

“WOW woke up to bad news..... Tucker’s burned down through the night. They had great food. :- ( “

Another wrote:

“Good Morning family. I woke this morning turned on the news and my favorite Friday Night Dance spot is on fire. I have met some wonderful people in Tuckers .Wow I hope everyone is safe. This is a total shock. Where am I going to get my catfish nuggets now? Wow hope all is well with the employees my extended family. Mz. J thinking about you guys this morning.”

Tuckers has not released a statement regarding the fire as of time of publication.