West Grove firefighters were called to join efforts to contain a blaze at a historic building on Elkton's Main Street Sunday evening.

The large blaze brought firefighters from across Chester, Cecil and New Castle Counties to a 3-alarm fire at Elkton's historic Howard Hotel Building. The dispatch for the WGFC was for a ladder and engine at just before 6pm, with Engine 22-2 and Ladder 22 responding.

The Singerly Fire Company of Elkton arrived to find fire on all floors of the three story building, and heavy fire in the rear on the initial alarm. WGFC crews operated on the third floor, assisting to put out the fire and open up walls and ceiling to assure the fire had been fully contained. A collapse did occur in the rear of the structure that had firefighters ordered out of the building at one point.

Fire crews were still on the scene nearly four hours after the initial dispatch.

According to the Cecil Whig, the Howard Hotel building was built in 1853, and has been used as a hotel, horse stables, apartments, various retails operations, and, recently, as a restaurant. For more, see: https://www.cecildaily.com/news/local_news/firefighters-battling-large-blaze-at-elktons-historic-howard-hotel-building/article_f43c1225-b1b2-5197-81d6-07fa6d8ab9bb.html

(Some photos courtesy of the Cecil Whig, Erik Halberg photographer)