McCoole residence destroyed by fire
Dec. 19—MCCOOLE — Firefighters responded to a fire Sunday that destroyed a residence in the 24000 block of Spring Briar Lane, according to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services.
First-arriving firefighters found the single-story structure, owned by Kenneth and Rebecca Brantner, engulfed in flames about 9:50 p.m. The couple were not at home when the fire broke out, officials said.
The structure, which was located off state Route 135 near Mountain Laurel Medical Center, suffered about $80,000 damage, the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said in a release Monday.
Investigators said the blaze broke out in the bedroom and a cause remains under investigation.
Potomac Volunteer Fire Department of Westernport directed the fire operation with assistance of companies from Keyser, Piedmont, Rawlings, Bloomington, New Creek and Barton along with Tri-Towns ambulance with county DES personnel.
Volunteers were reportedly on the scene until 1:30 a.m. The displaced homeowners are staying with family members, the fire marshal's office said.
A second weekend blaze heavily damaged a single-story home in the New Creek area of Mineral County, West Virginia. Volunteers were called to Old Hickory Lane off of Pine Swamp Road about 10:35 p.m. Saturday. There were no reported injuries in that fire.
