KENT COUNTY, MD – Investigators are conducting an ongoing investigation into the origin and cause of a three alarm blaze on Friday, January 21st, 2022 at Family Dollar in the Washington Square Shopping Center of Chestertown. Around 7:47 pm, the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding jurisdictions were dispatched for the commercial building fire at 13 Washington Square. Fire department units arrived with heavy fire in the ceiling and storefront of Family Dollar.
Investigators have determined the fire originated inside the ceiling of the Family Dollar store, but investigation into the cause is ongoing at this time. While the entire strip mall was affected by the initial incident, a fire rated wall and fire suppression efforts successfully limited fire damage to only two tenant spaces. The fire caused over $2 million dollars in damage throughout the entire strip mall. Over 85 fire department personnel from Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Caroline County and Delaware operated on the scene in frigid temperatures for over four hours.
Any individuals with additional information in reference to the fire is asked to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Upper Eastern Shore Office at 410-822-7609.
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~ MD State Fire Marshal