ELKTON, MD—A significant fire occurred at a multi-purpose commercial building located at 555 Blue Ball Road on Tuesday morning, causing extensive damage estimated at $1 million in total. The fire, which took two hours to control, was managed by the Singerly Fire Company with 100 firefighters responding to the two-alarm blaze.
The building, owned by Donnie Horton, houses several businesses including The Meat Shoppe, Cooper Electrical, Diesel Unlimited, Godzilla Motor Fabrication, and Iberia Holdings.
The fire originated in the garage of Iberia Holdings, a used auto part distributor, and is currently under investigation. Although the initial cause is suspected to be related to metal grinding activities igniting nearby combustibles, official conclusions have not yet been drawn.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the multiple tenants and occupants. The building lacked smoke alarms and fire sprinkler systems, which contributed to the spread of the fire. While the fire was primarily contained to the garage area, neighboring businesses suffered significant smoke, soot, heat, and water damage.
This incident underscores the critical importance of fire safety measures, particularly in commercial settings with high-risk activities. Investigations continue as authorities and business owners assess the full extent of the damage and recovery needs.