Fire Destroys Vacant Lisbon Home

An early morning fire destroyed a vacant house in Lisbon today, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Department personnel responded to the report of a fire in a single-family house in the 16000 block of Old Frederick Road after a passerby discovered the fire and called 911.

Upon arriving, firefighters found the building fully engulfed in flames, according to a statement from HCFRS.

As workers prepared to stage an exterior attack on the blaze, the building collapsed.

Thirty firefighters worked longer than an hour to get the fire under control, according to the statement.

To combat the fire, units also used water from a cistern recently installed near Lisbon Elementary School as part of HCFRS's Rural Water Supply program.

Assistance was provided by Carroll County units.

Initial reports indicate the property, which was vacant, did not have sprinklers or smoke alarms.

The scene was cleared around 6:30 a.m., and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Financial loss has not yet been determined, according to HCFRS spokeswoman Jackie Cutler.