The Maryland State Fire Marshal has launched an extensive investigation after a fire ripped through several townhouses late on Saturday, May 20, turning several Witchhazel Way residences into scorched rubble in Aberdeen.
At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Saturday night, more than five dozen firefighters responded from Abingdon, Aberdeen, and surrounding departments to the two-alarm fire, which took several hours to get under control.
At least three homes collapsed due to the damage caused by the flames, and officials say that “the heat from the fire was so intense it caused extensive heat-related damage to multiple other nearby homes.”
One firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment. At least 18 residents were displaced and are being assisted by the Harford County Disaster Assistance and Red Cross.
The investigation determined that the fire started in the back of one of the middle units before quickly spreading. The cause remains under investigation.
Electricity and gas were disconnected temporarily in the area, and Harford County Building and Inspections condemned the block of the homes that were impacted by the fire, which caused an estimated $5 million in damages.
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