All is well at St. Mary Church in Annapolis after a small fire in the late morning of Dec. 20 caused minor damage to the second floor of the parish’s three-story rectory.
“It’s been a crazy day,” said Christine Bervid, parish communications director.
Bervid said the Annapolis fire department quickly put out the fire just before noon at the church’s complex at 109 Duke of Gloucester St.
“Everything and everyone is fine,” she said. “There was minor damage to a priest’s room and no damage to the church or school. There was some smoke and the sprinkler system went off. Everyone went outside and the whole thing lasted only about a half hour.
“We were fortunate that our high school had a half day today and we had an early dismissal,” she said. “However, the dismissal of our elementary school was delayed.”
Bervid said 11 priests who serve at St. Mary, St. John Neumann and the Naval Academy reside at the rectory. The damage, mostly from water, did not displace any of them from their living quarters.
She said it was too early to estimate the cost of repairs.
The fire also will not affect any regular or Christmas services at the parish.
Nolan McCoy, director of facilities management for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said the St. Mary rectory residents declined offers to stay at a hotel temporarily.
“There’s no major damage, other than from the water,” McCoy said. “The fire suppression system worked the way it was supposed to.”
Annapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief John R. Ortlieb said the fire was contained to a bathroom.
About 60 firefighters from the Annapolis Fire Department, Anne Arundel County Fire Department and a Naval support unit responded to the fire, as well as the Annapolis Police Department.
“Upon arrival, firefighters encountered smoke conditions on the second floor and found one sprinkler head activated in the second floor bathroom,” said a fire department news release. “The sprinkler system was able to contain the fire to the second floor bathroom. The fire was quickly extinguished and the incident was placed under control in approximately 15 minutes.
“There were no injuries reported among fire personnel or civilians. The Annapolis Fire and Explosive Services Unit determined the fire to be accidental in origin caused by an electrical malfunction. The estimated total damage is approximately $50,000,“ the news release said.
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org
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