A suspicious fire destroyed a Carroll County excavating contractor's business early yesterday.
Seventy firefighters from the Winfield, Sykesville, Gamber and Westminster volunteer companies battled the blaze for 40 minutes at F.E. Harrison and Sons in the 5000 block of Old Washington Road near Winfield, Deputy State Fire Marshal Bob Thomas said.
A unidentified resident of a nearby mobile home initially spotted the fire and called 911, said Tim Warner, chief of the Winfield Volunteer Fire Co.
The first alarm sounded at 1:24 a.m.; a second, 20 minutes later.
Mr. Thomas said investigators had not ruled out arson.
The fire caused $150,000 damage to the two-story concrete and wood building and its contents, Mr. Thomas said.
No injuries were reported.