Fire At Amazon Warehouse Caused $500K In Damage: Investigators

CECIL COUNTY, MD — A two-alarm fire broke out at an Amazon warehouse in Cecil County Wednesday afternoon.

Employees discovered the blaze in the 600 block of Principio Parkway just before 2:30 p.m., according the fire marshal.

A plume of smoke was visible for miles, from US 40 in Havre de Grace west of the Hatem Bridge.

Because the fire was on the roof, in an unprotected area of the Amazon distribution center, investigators said the fire alarm did not activate.

The fire caused $500,000 in damage, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Officials said nobody was injured. However, at least one ambulance was called to the scene.

Investigators ruled the blaze an accident as the result of an "unspecified event involving the solar panel system."

The fire marshal said the blaze was "due to a failure of the solar panels located on the roof of the building."

Before 3 p.m., crews from the Susquehanna Hose Company reported they were assisting with the response to the building fire, where crews said fire was showing when they arrived.

"Hose Company crews established a flying standpipe off of Tower 5 and worked to extinguish multiple solar panels, HVAC units & roofing materials that were on fire," the hose company said in a statement. "Crews worked for just under two hours before returning to Havre de Grace."

In all, about 60 firefighters brought the blaze under control in 80 minutes, the fire marshal said.