Second Working Fire Keeps Volunteer Firefighters Busy Thursday Evening

Charles County volunteer firefighters faced another challenging incident on Thursday, June 25, 2026, as they responded to their second simultaneous working structure fire of the evening. The back-to-back emergencies demonstrated the unwavering commitment and rapid response of both volunteer and career personnel throughout Charles County and neighboring jurisdictions.

Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Hughesville volunteer firefighters along with surrounding departments from St. Mary's and Calvert Counties were dispatched to the 8000 block of Beethoven Place in Charlotte Hall following multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting heavy black smoke and flames coming from a sawmill.

Upon arrival, first-arriving crews encountered a well-involved fire consuming a sawmill and barn structure measuring approximately 30 feet by 30 feet. Incident Command immediately requested a Working Fire Dispatch, bringing additional firefighters and apparatus to the scene.

Due to the intensity of the fire, Incident Command directed crews to conduct a defensive exterior attack, prioritizing firefighter safety while working to contain the blaze. Firefighters did not enter the structure and instead focused on extinguishing the fire from the outside.

Because of the significant water demands, firefighters established multiple water supply operations, including a secondary water source at Gilbert Run, ensuring a continuous and reliable water supply throughout the incident.

This fire marked the second active working structure fire occurring simultaneously in Charles County Thursday evening, placing significant demands on local emergency resources. Despite responding to multiple incidents at the same time, fire and EMS agencies from Charles County, along with mutual aid partners, worked seamlessly to protect lives, property, and the surrounding community.

Charles County Volunteer Fire Chief Kaufmann extends his sincere appreciation to the 54 firefighters, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers, and mutual aid partners whose professionalism, teamwork, and dedication resulted in a coordinated and successful response to these challenging incidents.

He also reminds residents that while these incidents underscore the strength of our regional fire service, they serve as a reminder that emergencies can occur at any time. The dedication of volunteer and career responders, supported by strong mutual aid partnerships, ensures that our communities continue to receive the highest level of emergency service—even when multiple significant incidents occur simultaneously.