Fire at Queen Anne's High School Caused by Electrical Event

CENTREVILLE, MD - On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at approximately 7:13 p.m., a fire occurred at Queen Anne's High School, located at 125 Ruthsburg Road in Centreville, Maryland.

The fire originated in a first-floor office at the rear of the two-story school building. An investigation determined the preliminary cause to be accidental, resulting from an unspecified electrical event involving a power surge protector.

The incident was initially reported as a fire alarm activation after the system alerted the fire alarm company, which then contacted 911. A school custodian also discovered the fire after the alarm sounded. The call was later upgraded to a building fire.

The Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company was the primary responding department. A total of 36 firefighters responded to the single-alarm incident and brought the fire under control within 32 minutes.

The building's fire alarm and sprinkler systems were present and activated as designed. The sprinkler activation successfully extinguished the fire, containing it to the office of origin.

The total estimated loss is $30,000, with $15,000 in damages to the structure and $15,000 to its contents.

As a result of the fire, the school was closed today to allow for cleanup.