Lightning strike blamed for fire at old, vacant Elkton building

ELKTON — Investigators believe that a lightning strike late Tuesday night caused a fire at a long-vacant Elkton building that reportedly is more than 200 years, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal and Cecil Whig archives.

A passerby called 911 at 11:26 p.m. Tuesday after noticing the burning building at the 200 block of South Bridge Street, a short walking distance from the Big Elk Mall, prompting area volunteer fire companies to respond, fire officials said. Singerly Volunteer Fire Company of Elkton served as the on-scene command unit, fire officials added.

Approximately 40 volunteer firefighters battled the blaze for about one hour before bringing it under control, fire officials reported.

The blaze caused an estimated $50,000 in structural damage to the vacant, three-story, brick building, according to an MOSFM spokesperson, who identified the Baltimore-based Cordish Company as the property owner. No one was injured in the fire.

Whig archives indicate that the building is sometimes referred to as Holly Hall Mansion and that is more than 200 years old. In addition, according to those archives, the Cordish Company also owns the nearby Big Elk Mall.

During their on-scene investigation, MOSFM detectives determined that the blaze started in the attic, fire officials said. Based on that preliminary investigation, they listed “lightning strike” as the cause of the blaze, fire officials added.