Sprinklers save Historic Carriage House Inn

5-25-08

EMMITSBURG -- After a fire sparked in the Carriage House Inn kitchen after hours, sprinklers saved the structure, according to officials with the Vigilant Hose Company.

A National Fire Academy student was walking near the restaurant at 200 S. Seton Ave. about 1 a.m. Sunday when the student saw smoke coming from the building, said Lt. Jason Powell. The student called 911 but the sprinklers had already started to operate.

"The sprinklers definitely saved the building," Powell said.

The county fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, he said. The building suffered only about $5,000 in structural damages but employees have a lot of cleaning up to do.

No one was injured in the blaze, he said. Fire crews were on the scene for about three hours.

The building dates back to 1857 but within the past couple of years, the owner decided to put in the sprinklers, Powell said.

A message on the Carriage House Inn's answering machine Sunday said the restaurant will not reopen until Wednesday.