The investigation of a two-alarm fire that caused nearly $2M damage to a carpet business in Frederick is continuing.
Early Wednesday, a Frederick police officer noticed heavy fire coming from the rear of Potomac Tile and Carpet on East Street.
A second alarm and RIT were requested as firefighters realized they would need additional manpower and equipment to battle the fire in the strip shopping center.
Firefighters quickly forced entry into the building from the front and rear. However, they were evacuated minutes later following a collapse in the back, Battalion Chief Dan Healy explained adding that a defensive operation was initiated.
“In addition to failure of steel, there were concerns about a wall that was cracked and pushed back,” he said. “A collapse zone was established…”
The back section of the building where the fire originated was used for storage of carpet, padding, tiles and other items. A door separated it from the showroom and kept the fire from spreading, Healy said.
“Fire walls also kept the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings. They worked…” he said adding that they sustained smoke damage.
It took firefighters about two hours to deem the fire under control due to the complexity of getting to the fire once the collapse occurred.
Special operations crews who were already on the scene determined a tank on a forklift found in the rubble was empty. A relief valve worked correctly.
Firefighters returned to the site at least twice for rekindles.
The family owned and operated store has been in business since 1979.
There were no injuries, Healy said.
