by Geoff Fox
Firefighters from around the region responded to a large woods fire around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the 3400 block of National Pike. The woods fire quickly endangered several buildings on the property, eventually burning sheds and outbuildings but no homes.
Smoke could be seen rising from the fire scene from eastbound Interstate 70.
Hancock Fire Chief Robert Hoopengardner said 12.6 acres in total were involved in the fire with six structures burned.
No homes were affected by the fire as firefighters stopped the fire from reaching the house on the property.
Hoopengardner said the DNR was investigating the cause of the fire.
Units from Hancock, Berkeley Springs, Great Cacapon, South Morgan, Hancock Rescue Squad, Clear Spring, Orleans, Needmore, Williamsport, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Wildland Teams out of Washington and Frederick counties, and Washington County Rehab all responded.
“We had high winds and dry conditions which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire,” Hoopengardner said in an email.
When fire crews arrived, a couple acres were already burning.
Trying to find a way to the fire hampered the first responding firefighters, but Hoopengardner said neighbors showed them where to go.
By the time they got to the fire, two outbuildings were already involved and crews had to protect the house with the water they had.
Additional buildings were lost before other fire crews arrived on scene to help.
Hoopengardner said a neighbor to the property, Mike Flowers, brought a dozer to the scene and helped put a fire line around to help contain the fire.
