Cumberland Fire Spreads to Three Homes

Nov. 09--CUMBERLAND -- Three people were left homeless Saturday when an accidental fire swept through an East Side residence, damaged a second one and scorched siding of a third home nearby.

Four city firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

John and Doris Melvin and their teenage granddaughter escaped the fire that began in an unoccupied two-story structure at 434 Broadway St. and quickly extended to the Melvin property at 577 Cromwell Terrace, which is located directly behind the empty dwelling where the fire originated.

Twenty-one city firefighters and numerous volunteer fire departments, under the direction of City Fire Capt. Tim Growden, responded to the 6 a.m. fire that lit up the night sky and was clearly visible to motorists on nearby Interstate 68.

Kathy Taylor of 418 Broadway was awakened by her Akita dog Apollo. "He must have smelled smoke. I walked out to the end of the driveway and a whole house across the street was engulfed in flames.

"I ran back inside and got my husband up. Bobby ran up and pounded on Doris and John's door and told them they had to get out now. The fire was that close.

"They got their teenage granddaughter and they all got out. There was an electrical line down and the sparks were flying," said Taylor.

"It was totally involved in fire when we got there. A second residence was burning and the fire had extended into the attic and we had fire burning on the ground that was heading toward City View Terrace," said City Fire Lt. W. Shannon Adams after spending several hours at the fire scene.

Adams said the Melvin's granddaughter was descending the steps of her family's residence when the raging fire's heat burst a second-floor window.

"The fire was closing in on her," said Adams.

By mid-afternoon, Adams had completed his cause-and-origin investigation.

"The fire was caused by an overheated extension cord where power tools were plugged in. It caught the ceiling joists on fire in the basement," he said.

The fire destroyed the unoccupied dwelling at 434 Broadway that is owned by Fessha Aregay. The loss in building and contents was estimated at $30,000.

At 577 Cromwell, the fire caused extensive damages estimated at $40,000.

In addition, heat from the fire melted siding of a residence at 433 Broadway also owned by Aregay. The dwelling is situated across the street from the house where the fire originated.

Adams said the Melvin property was insured. Aregay had no insurance on his properties.

"The house where the fire began was real old and nobody has been in it for 10 to 15 years. Fish (Aregay) was fixing it up. He was working awful hard on it to improve the neighborhood," said Taylor, who has lived on the street for four decades.

Adams said neighbors and an officer of the Cumberland Police Department were knocking on doors to wake up residents when the fire was first discovered.

Taylor commended the firefighters.

"I thought the firefighters responded really well. The water pressure wasn't good. We live on a hill. But they did a really good job and were on the ball. They got everything under control. They did a wonderful job.

"I wouldn't want to be a fireman. They prevented the fire from spreading and there is hardly any space between the houses. I thought they did a great job," she said.

The victims were being assisted by the American Red Cross and its disaster action team members.

"We are helping the family with basic needs, sheltering through hotel assistance and with food and clothing," said Scott Salemme, Red Cross Chesapeake Region chief executive officer.

Numerous volunteer companies responded to the scene, including Wiley Ford, LaVale, Bowling Green, Bedford Road, Bowman's Addition, Cresaptown, District 16 and Corriganville along with the Allegany County Fire Police.

The response included volunteers standing by at the Cumberland Fire Central Station where five off-duty city firefighters were pressed into service by the early-morning incident.

All fire units cleared the scene by 1 p.m., according to the Allegany County 911 center, which coordinated communications throughout the two-alarm fire.

"It was awful," said Taylor. "Luckily no people and no animals were hurt."

Jeffrey Alderton may be contacted at [email protected].