Carroll County volunteer firefighters from throughout the
county responded Sunday afternoon to a laundry room fire at “Vetville” in the 100
unit block of Wimert Avenue, near Sullivan Avenue and Route 140 in northwest
Westminster.
The complex, known locally as “Vetville,” dates back to
1946, when the housing units were built “by the government for the GIs who are
attending or will attend Western Maryland College under the GI Bill of Rights,”
according to a newspaper account in the now-defunct Democratic Advocate.
“A one-story
construction, set up on cement blocks, with a brick-like celetex finish, they
will fill the hopes of many GIs who plan to finish their education with their
families. The apartments are made up of living room, two bedrooms, two closets
and a kitchen, to be fully equipped with sink, stove and refrigerator…”
It is believed that
the last fire occurred in Vetville on November 2, 2003, when, “A two-alarm fire
… destroyed a four-unit apartment building in Westminster, but its eight
residents, including two children, escaped without injuries,” according to an
article in the Baltimore Sun.
Carroll County
volunteer firefighters from throughout the county responded Sunday afternoon to
a laundry room fire at “Vetville” in the 100 unit block of Wimert Avenue. Photo
2(b) by Kevin E. Dayhoff October 20, 2013
Firefighters and
equipment from Pleasant Valley, Lineboro, Reese, and New Windsor quickly joined
Westminster firefighters at “Vetville.” Photo 3(b) by Kevin E. Dayhoff October
20, 2013
On Sunday, two
additional apartment units were damaged at “Vetville” in the 100 unit block of
Wimert Avenue. Photo 12(b) by Kevin E. Dayhoff October 20, 2013.
