Authorities in Washington County are investigating a tragic house fire in Clear Spring that claimed the lives of three people early Tuesday morning. According to officials, the fatal incident unfolded before dawn, leaving two women and one man dead and prompting an extensive emergency response as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.
Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 4:30 a.m. after reports of a structure fire at a residence situated between Shade Bower Road and St. Paul Road, just east of Clear Spring. When first responders arrived, they encountered intense flames and thick smoke pouring from both the basement and first floor of the home. The severity of the fire required assistance from multiple departments across Washington County and neighboring jurisdictions.
Roughly 60 firefighters ultimately participated in the operation, including personnel from Clear Spring Fire, Williamsport Fire & EMS, Maugansville Fire, Funkstown Fire, Community Volunteer Fire Company, Longmeadow Fire, Hancock Fire, Greencastle Fire, Mercersburg Fire, Community Rescue Service, Clear Spring Ambulance, as well as units from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and Emergency Support Services. Crews worked rapidly and strategically despite the challenging conditions, and the flames were brought under control shortly before 5 a.m.
Unfortunately, once the fire was extinguished, responders discovered that three occupants—two females and one male—had died inside the residence. While the loss of life was devastating, first responders did manage to rescue two family dogs, which were transported to the local SPCA for care and evaluation.
R. David Hays, Director of the Washington County Division of Emergency Services, publicly expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and commended the efforts of the responding teams. He emphasized the professionalism and dedication displayed by firefighters who confronted difficult and dangerous circumstances during the early-morning emergency.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched a full investigation to determine what sparked the deadly blaze. As of now, authorities have not released the identities of the victims, and the cause of the fire remains under review as investigators continue to gather information.
