Waldorf thrift store destroyed in fire

Monday, Feb. 8, 2010

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES A fire destroyed the Waldorf Thrift Store early Saturday morning. The building was still smoldering Monday morning. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Photo courtesy of the LA PLATA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT About 100 firefighters battled the blaze that destroyed the Waldorf Thrift Store on Crain Highway.

Posted at 11:55 a.m. Monday

Flames tore through the Waldorf Thrift Store on Sunday in a two-alarm fire that caused an estimated $900,000 in damage and took four hours to control, according to authorities.

At around 1:25 a.m., a snowplow operator called 911 to report seeing thick, black smoke coming from the store at 2215 Crain Highway.

Maryland State Police arrived at the store a few minutes later and discovered the building's roof had collapsed and much of the structure was already burning, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. About 100 members of the Waldorf, Westlake, La Plata, Hughesville, Bel Alton, Bryans Road, Baden, Brandywine, Clinton and Accokeek volunteer fire departments battled the blaze.

Authorities reported the building and merchandise were lost in the fire, causing about $650,000 in damage to the structure and $250,000 to the contents. No one was injured in the blaze.

The building will smolder for days.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office is continuing to investigate how the fire started.