american tax relief: 20070902 Mount Airy Maryland Fire

September 12th, 2007 -- corrected April 14, 2008: Recovery efforts underway from recent 3 alarm fire in Mount Airy by Kevin Dayhoff 09/02/2007 Mount Airy Fire Photos by SD and M Dorrance In the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 2, the town of Mount Airy was awakened to a three-alarm fire in the 200 block of South Main Street. The damage is estimated to be around $4 million for seven businesses, and five apartments destroyed in the historic main downtown business district of Mount Airy. The businesses affected by the fire, included Larienzo's Brick Oven Cafe, A Do or Dye Day Spa & Salon, Déjà vu, Retro Metro, Inspiration Point, Matrix Solutions, and the Olde Towne Restaurant. An empty lot vacated by a fire which destroyed a grocery store a number of years ago separated the fire from the newly renovated Town Hall, which was unharmed. Two buildings were destroyed, the Watkins building owned by Bill Chapman and the Bohn building owned by CBI Development Group, LLC. The American Red Cross provided assistance for the displaced apartment residents. Over a hundred firefighters from Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, and Howard counties fought the blaze. There were no reports of injuries. Fighting the fire was reported to have been difficult and complicated by a relatively narrow Main Street, overhead wires, various other access issues, and challenges obtaining water. None of the buildings or businesses involved had sprinkler systems. The small town of about 9200 residents which ...