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Maryland State Fire Marshal

News Release Martin O’Malley Brian S. Geraci Governor State Fire Marshal

TWO ALARM FIRE DESTROYS LOCAL CHURCH

CARROLL COUNTY, MD (December 3, 2013) – Investigators from the Office

of the State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

are currently conducting an origin and cause investigation involving the Lazarus Church

located at 5101 South Church Street in Lineboro.

The 4:11 a.m. two alarm blaze was discovered by neighbors directly across the

street of the 160 year-old church. Nearly 60 firefighters responded from Carroll and

Baltimore Counties, as well as York County, Pennsylvania to control the blaze within two

hours after arrival on scene. The church, originally constructed in 1853, received heavy

fire damage throughout the entire structure. Damage estimates for the structure and

contents is one million dollars.

The Lazarus Church is a union congregation church and was a place of worship for

both UCC and Lutheran members.

The origin and cause for the blaze remains under investigation at this time. Anyone

having information concerning this fire should contact the Metro Regional Office of the State

Fire Marshal at 410-871-3050.

*See photo on second page*

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Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect

citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire

protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at:

www.mdsp.org/firemarshal and/or http://facebook.com/MarylandStateFireMarshal.