Furnace Motor Fire at Caroline Detention Center Resolved; No Injuries Reported

County officials say a furnace motor fire at the Caroline County Detention Center on Sunday was resolved without injuries.

Speaking during Tuesday’s Caroline County Commissioners meeting, County Administrator Katheleen Freeman said the fire prompted a response from the fire department, sheriff’s office, and police department. No one was injured, and the damaged equipment was repaired on an emergency basis. The county is now working on an insurance claim.

The incident comes as county leaders continue discussions about the future of the detention center.

The current facility was originally built in 1906 and expanded in the 1980s and 1990s. While it has capacity for about 150 inmates, officials say the lack of adequate program space remains a major concern.

County officials previously considered joining a regional detention center project with Queen Anne's and Kent counties, but withdrew over concerns about management structure and authority. No decision has been made on building a new detention facility, though officials say they have begun consulting with architects.