WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE, STATE FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATING THURSDAY HOUSE FIRE

  

A large house fire between Brenham and Burton Thursday that required the assistance of all Washington County fire departments is now under investigation by local and state authorities.

The Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, with mutual aid from the Burton Volunteer Fire Department, responded Thursday morning shortly before 10:45 a.m. to a structure fire in the 600 block of Harrisburg Road off Highway 290.  Firefighters found a two-story structure well involved in fire.

Due to the amount of fire and need for additional personnel, an all call for all county fire departments was sent.  The departments provided assistance including additional manpower and multiple water hauling apparatuses, which shuttled water to the scene from a water supply several miles away.

Units cleared the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m., after working the fire for approximately nine hours.

The home was a total loss.  No one was home at the time of the fire.  One firefighter was treated and released on scene.  Firefighters thank the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for providing hydration supplies and food for firefighters.

According to Berlin Volunteer Fire Chief Mike McAnally, the cause of the fire is “suspicious”, and is currently being investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal’s Office.