SYKESVILLE — Members of the Sykesville-Freedom District Volunteer Fire Department hope to rebuild after their social hall suffered a partial collapse and caught fire on Feb. 11.

"Right now we're going to recuperate," said David Kreimer, vice president of the fire department. "We're going to rebuild eventually, and take one day at a time."

The weight of the snow collapsed the hall's roof at about 7:57 a.m., onto a gas line, and the line ignited, he said.

"Everything has been totally destroyed," he said.

No one was injured in the fire, he said. Crews from Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick and Howard counties responded.

The social hall building, which is connected to the fire house, at Route 32 and Freedom Avenue, also contained a classroom and six administrative offices.

The social hall had a flat-roof construction, Kreimer said, and the weight of nearly 50 inches of snow caused the collapse.

The Carroll County Bureau of Permits and Inspections had issued a warning Feb. 10 to flat-roof building owners to beware of the weight of snow.

Sykesville-Freedom Co. 12 will continue to operate from the station. Service was not interrupted during the incident.

The cost to rebuild was not immediately known, but donations of cash and checks are being accepted at Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department Inc., P.O. Box 275, Sykesville, MD 21784.

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