Food left on stove sparked blaze

STEPHENSON -- Fire officials determined that food left cooking on a stove caused a Tuesday evening blaze that damaged the home of a Frederick County church pastor and his family.

The fire started accidentally, Frederick County Assistant Fire Marshal Jay Bauserman said Thursday.

The home at 2720 Martinsburg Pike is linked to the parking lot of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where Jim Smith serves as pastor. Smith lives in the house with his wife, Juanita, and their 6-year-old son, Ean.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, Bauserman said, which occurred shortly after 7 p.m. No one was in the home when the fire began. Bauserman said the pastor had gone to the church at the time.

Bauserman estimated the fire caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the home. Bauserman lauded firefighters' efforts to limit the damage.

"The fire department, though, did a really nice job, No. 1, stopping the fire, but they also took a lot of time in covering up their possessions like furniture," Bauserman said. "They covered them and that protected them from water damage ... so a lot of the furniture, other than some dust and insulation, was unhurt."

The pastor and his family declined shelter assistance from the local American Red Cross, opting instead to stay with friends.