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The 71-year-old resident of an Edgewood apartment complex is recovering after flames broke out inside his unit on the night of Saturday, March 15, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
Investigators say the fire started in the kitchen of Apartment D in the 1730 block of Crimson Tree Way, when combustible items came into contact with the stove.
The man attempted to extinguish the flames but quickly became overwhelmed as the fire spread.
With no sprinkler system in place and smoke filling the apartment, he was left with one option: jump.
Neighbors outside urged him to leap from his second-floor balcony, and after moments of hesitation, he finally made the drop.
Fire crews from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and nearby departments rushed to the scene around 10 p.m., battling flames that took 30 minutes to get under control.
The man, who suffered burns on 20 to 30 percent of his body, was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition.
A firefighter also sustained minor injuries but declined medical transport.
Firefighters contained the flames mostly to the man’s unit, though adjacent apartments suffered moderate smoke, soot, and water damage.
The fire caused $500,000 in damage to the four-unit building and displaced five additional residents, who are being assisted by friends, family, and Harford County Disaster Assistance, officials said.
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