Feb. 17--CUMBERLAND -- One person was rescued by Cumberland Police after jumping from a fire-engulfed residence at 629 Maryland Ave. on Friday afternoon and a neighbor was taken into custody after he ignored police orders and attempted to enter the burning two-story dwelling.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center by ambulance.
One side of the house was reportedly vacant and the other side was occupied by a man identified by Cumberland Police as Christian Liller, who was found yelling and "hanging out" a window at the upper level at the rear of the structure.
"Our responding officers located a man yelling at the rear of the residence and surrounded by fire. We talked him into jumping and our officers ran under the smoke and were able to drag him out to safety from the side of the building," said Cumberland Police Lt. Brian Lepley, who responded to the scene after being off duty for only 10 minutes.
Police said Liller was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Prior to the arrival of firefighters, Cumberland Police arrested a man said to be a neighbor of 629 Maryland Ave. He was taken into custody after being physically subdued at the rear of the property as he reportedly ignored police orders and attempted to enter the building.
Firefighters trained numerous lines on the raging fire that threatened structures located within an arm's reach on either side of the smoke-filled building.
They struggled to control the fire, which was fanned by occasional gusting winds that shifted the heavy smoke from one direction to another and at times greatly reduced visibility at street level.
More than 15 minutes after the 2:32 p.m. alert, the fire continued raging, with flames shooting high into the sky as numerous spectators gathered in the area of the fire scene, located a short distance from Williams Street.
Police soon cleared onlookers out of the immediate area due to safety concerns.
Intense heat from the fire could be felt across the street from the burning home.
As city firefighters battled the fire with the assistance of various volunteer fire companies, Cumberland Police confirmed information that Liller's two children were not inside the structure when the fire broke out. The children were reportedly determined to be at a Maryland Avenue residence a couple of blocks from their home.
The fire was first discovered by a Cumberland Police officer who used his police radio to inform the Allegany County 911 center of the fire, which was brought under control by 3:29 p.m., according to the 911 center.
At least two investigators of the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office were at the scene along with Lt. Shannon Adams, city fire marshal.
Allegany County Fire Police, Allegany County Sheriff's Office and Cumberland streets department personnel also responded to the incident where firefighters continued to battle the fire more than an hour after the initial alert.
Friday's fire occurred in the same general area where two fatal fires occurred in recent weeks.
An apparently accidental fire on East Harrison Street on Jan. 20 claimed the lives of two young sisters.
Three women died in a fire in a residence on Estella Street on Dec. 11. The fire cause was said to be accidental.
Contact Jeffrey Alderton at [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - Cumberland Times-News, Md.
