DEAL ISLAND, Md. — A fire tore through a private island in Somerset County on Monday afternoon, destroying four structures and causing an estimated $600,000 in damages.
The fire was reported at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Franks Island, a 20-acre privately owned island accessible only by boat. The primary structure affected was a 32-by-60-foot recreational building with living space, owned by Island Sunset Incorporated. The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds and access challenges caused by low tide, officials said.
In addition to the recreational building, the fire consumed a vacant one-and-a-half-story single-family dwelling, a 12-by-24-foot shed, and a 12-by-12-foot shed. All four structures were declared a total loss.
Deputy State Fire Marshals are investigating the origin and cause of the fire, which reportedly began in the recreational building. There were no injuries or fatalities. Smoke alarms were present in the building, but there were no fire alarms or sprinklers.
The Deal Island-Chance Volunteer Fire Company was the primary responding department, supported by additional units responding to a second alarm. A total of 40 firefighters battled the blaze for two hours before bringing it under control.
Neighboring residents initially discovered the fire and alerted authorities. “The strong winds and difficult access contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, complicating firefighting efforts,” officials noted in a statement.