Home»MARYLAND FIRE DEPT. INCIDENTS»CARROLL Co. Fire Dept.»2-Alarm 6035 Taneytown Pike 12-5-12

On Wednesday, December 5, 2012 a fire was reported at Chaz’s Auto Parts in Taneytown. An auto mechanic was working on a car in the building draining gasoline from the car into a bucket. Apparently a spark from a tool he was using ignited the gasoline resulting in an explosion that rapidly spread fire throughout the garage.
Fire Box 5-26 was dispatched at 11:49 PM bringing companies from Carroll County as well as Frederick County and Adams County, PA.
When units arrived they began an interior attack but were quickly driven back to the exterior by a heavy volume of fire. They began setting up a water supply at the entrance to the property. At 12:03 a second alarm was requested and a call for additional tankers. A water shuttle was established from a site about 1 ½ miles down Taneytown Road.
The building was a World War II era corrugated metal airplane hanger approximately 80’ X 100’ and had no sprinklers. It was well involved on arrival and companies began setting up portable and elevated master streams. At the height of the blaze Taneytown’s ladder and Emmitsburg’s tower were set up as well as numerous handlines and portable monitor pipes.
The fire was eventually contained around 2:30. Employees of the company used heavy machinery to help pull down walls for the firefighters to get at the fire.
When it was over the building was totally destroyed along with all of the equipment and contents inside. The loss was estimated at $350,000.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal was on the scene to investigate.
All of the other employees working in the adjacent office building got out safely and the only injury was the mechanic who received minor burns on both of his forearms. He was treated by medics on the scene and he remained on the scene while firefighters battled the fire.