CRISFIELD, Md. - A team of investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal said late Monday night that they are continuing to work to determine the origin and cause for a multi-alarm fire at a business on Crisfield Highway that broke out Monday afternoon.
The fire was discovered just before 2:30 p.m. at Chesapeake Boats Inc. located at 5030 Crisfield Highway in Crisfield. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, employees first discovered the fire in the front office and quickly called 911.
Firefighters tell WBOC the 10,000 square foot building was engulfed in flames within 10 minutes of their arrival.
Nearly 70 firefighters responded from every station in Somerset County as well as Worcester and Accomack, VA and controlled the blaze within 2 and a half hours, the fire marshal's office said.
No injuries were reported, but the business is considered a complete loss. According to the chief of the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, one firefighter was sent to a local hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion.
Austin Mason, an employee at Chesapeake Boats, spoke to WBOC following the fire. "You can't get no worse than this," he said. "Until it happens to you, you would never think it would ever happen to you. The experience...it's hard to explain. It's just terrible."
As of Tuesday night, the fire marshal's office said the damage to the building and its contents was estimated at $10 million, but Mason said it won't stop the company from moving forward.
Right now, it doesn't look like much, but you know, all the workers here...we're a family, "Mason said. "We'll stick together. Everyone's really close, so it's gonna be okay. We're gonna bounce back."
Anyone having information regarding his incident is asked to contact the Lower Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-713-3780.
