Preston, MD - On Monday, February 19, 2024, at approximately 2:08 PM, a two-story, wood-framed, single-family dwelling located at 4631 Newton Road, Preston, Caroline County, was significantly damaged by a fire. 

The house, owned by Mr. John Davis Sr., suffered an estimated loss of $350,000.00, encompassing both the structure and the contents. Despite the extensive damage, there were thankfully no injuries reported in the incident.

The Preston Volunteer Fire Company was the primary responding unit, and was assisted by local agencies in the area. They faced a challenging situation, deploying two alarms and requiring the assistance of 55 firefighters to gain control over the fire. It took approximately an hour to completely douse the flames and bring this incident under control.

Officers at the scene were able to determine that the fire originated from the rear exterior of the house. In an unfortunate turn of events, the fire igniting the house was deemed accidental as a result of the homeowner, while using a propane torch to burn weeds adjacent to the dwelling, inadvertently set the exterior of the house ablaze. 

This event underscores the importance of exercising caution while using potentially hazardous equipment near residences.