Historic Courthouse Burns in Maryland

A windblown fire gutted the nearly 300-year-old Prince George’s County courthouse Wednesday, but was beat back before reaching a modern wing where records are kept and trials are held.

“Firefighting crews took a defensive posture from the beginning to protect the new courthouse,” built in 1991, said Marc Bashoor, a county fire commander.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for more than 90 minutes, stopping the flames from moving past a series of connecting corridors that joined the unoccupied 19th century red-brick courthouse and the modern wing, which houses the county’s court system, criminal and land records and other documents.

The old courthouse had been undergoing a $27-million renovation; hose taps and sprinklers had been disconnected by workers. The fire erupted on the roof, whipped by wind gusts of more than 20 mph and fueled by construction materials.

There were no injuries. Court was canceled for the day and employees were sent home.

Employees had anticipated moving back into the renovated section of the courthouse in mid-January; all the old files and historical paintings had been removed, county officials said.

“We will rebuild this building,” said Jack Johnson, county executive. He said he planned to meet with Gov. Robert L. Erhlich Jr.

A courthouse has stood on the grounds since 1720, and the building has been altered and expanded at least four times in the last 284 years, officials said. The dome-shaped cupola that had adorned the gutted building since its completion in 1881 was badly charred. A bell that signaled the daily opening of court fell from its heavily damaged tower.