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Police & Fire
'Close Before You Doze:' Shut Door Credited For Containing Garage Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal 'Close Before You Doze:' Shut Door Credited For Containing Garage Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal
'Close Before You Doze:' Shut Door Credited For Containing Garage Blaze: Maryland Fire Marshal Sometimes the little things go a long way. Quick action by firefighters and a closed interior garage door prevented a devastating fire from spreading through a single-family home on Harrington Drive in Rising Sun on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The blaze broke out around 4 p.m. in the garage of the home, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, when a neighbor spotted smoke and called 911.  Firebox 800: The Community Fire Company of Rising Sun is currently cleaning up from this first due garage fire on... Posted by Community Fire Company of Rising Sun, Inc. on&nbs…

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by Zak Failla
News
First Cold-Related Deaths Of The Holiday Season Reported In Maryland First Cold-Related Deaths Of The Holiday Season Reported In Maryland
First Cold-Related Deaths Of The Holiday Season Reported In Maryland The first three cold-related deaths of the 2024-2025 winter season have been reported in Maryland, according to state health officials. The Maryland Department of Health said the deaths involved adult males—two in their 60s and one in their 30s, with two being reported in Baltimore City, while the third was reported in Baltimore County.  The first fatality was reported Nov. 23, with the other two occurring Dec. 2. Officials are urging Maryland residents to take precautions to prevent cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia as temperatures continue to drop.  Health …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman, Two Dogs Tragically Killed In Maryland Trailer Inferno: Fire Marshal Woman, Two Dogs Tragically Killed In Maryland Trailer Inferno: Fire Marshal
Woman, Two Dogs Tragically Killed In Maryland Trailer Inferno: Fire Marshal A woman and two dogs were killed in a devastating trailer blaze that broke out Friday night in Cecil County, the Maryland Fir Marshal's Office announced. Firefighters from Singerly Fire Company and nearby agencies responded to the fire at approximately 9 p.m. on Nov. 29 in the 1900 block of East Old Philadelphia Road, where there was a reported fire. Investigators say that a man told firefighters that he was able to escape the trailer unharmed, but his girlfriend and their two dogs were still inside. Crews extinguished the flames in under 10 minutes and later found the woman - who has not …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Maryland Man Dies Days After Falling Into Fire Pit In Tragic Accident: Police Maryland Man Dies Days After Falling Into Fire Pit In Tragic Accident: Police
Maryland Man Dies Days After Falling Into Fire Pit In Tragic Accident: Police A man has succumbed to his injuries days after a horrifying accident involving a fire pit in Baltimore County, officials said. The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 in the 3600 block of Bay Drive in Bowley's Quarters when Glen Himmelheber, Jr. tripped and fell into a lit fire pit in his backyard.  Witnesses were able to call for help, and Himmelheber was rushed to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center with severe burns, where he later died on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Officials are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident, though no foul play i…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats
Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has implemented a statewide ban on open-air burning amid the "extremely dry conditions" that have plagued the region recently. According to officials, "extremely dry conditions persist across the state and have led to an above average number of wildfires statewide, and conditions are not expected to change in the near future." It was enacted on Friday, Nov. 1.  The ban will remain in effect until the Maryland Forest Service determines the state has received enough precipitation to reduce the threat of wildfires statewide, they added. …

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region There will be an elevated risk of fire danger in the DMV region on Saturday due to the continued dry conditions and expected gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. An alert was issued cautioning that there will be increased fire conditions expected on Oct. 26, with relative humidity levels staying long, with winds hovering between 15 and 20 mph and gusts possibly reaching 30 mph in parts of Maryland and Virginia. The forecasted conditions "will result in the rapid drying of fine fuels like grass, leaves, and small shrubs."  In response to the expected weather, forecas…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region There will be an elevated risk of fire danger in the DMV region on Thursday due to the continued dry conditions and expected gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. An alert was issued cautioning that there will be increased fire conditions expected on Oct. 24, with relative humidity levels staying long, with winds hovering between 10 and 15 mph and gusts possibly reaching 25 mph in parts of Maryland and Virginia. The forecasted conditions "will result in the rapid drying of fine fuels."  In response to the expected weather, forecasters have cautions that "residents an…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Improperly Disposed Smoking Materials Possibly To Blame For Maryland Garage Fire Improperly Disposed Smoking Materials Possibly To Blame For Maryland Garage Fire
Improperly Disposed Smoking Materials Possibly To Blame For Maryland Garage Fire The cause of a massive fire that tore through a Montgomery County garage and damaged a home has been determined to possibly be improperly disposed smoking materials, investigators say. Late on Friday afternoon, first responders were called to the 13600 block of Cherrydale Drive near Glenn Mill Road in Rockville, where there was a reported fire in a garage that spread to an area home. According to a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, the fire was reported shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 by a neighbor who alerted the family that there were flames showing from the gara…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Firefighters In Maryland Help Battle Blaze In Virginia Caused By Improperly Disposed Oily Rags Firefighters In Maryland Help Battle Blaze In Virginia Caused By Improperly Disposed Oily Rags
Firefighters In Maryland Help Battle Blaze In Virginia Caused By Improperly Disposed Oily Rags Improperly disposed rags in a Loudoun County garage led to a large fire that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage when they spontaneously combusted, officials confirmed. On Sunday night, multiple agencies in Virginia and Maryland were called to a reported garage fire in the 13300 block of Downey Mill Road in Lovettsville, where there was a reported blaze that broke out.  First responders were met by an active fire on the exterior of the garage, though firefighters were able to contain the flames before they spreading to the inside of the structure. It then took fire and rescu…

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by Zak Failla
News
Owners Admit Fault For Fire At Long Island Rental That Killed Maryland Sisters Owners Admit Fault For Fire At Long Island Rental That Killed Maryland Sisters
Owners Admit Fault For Fire At Long Island Rental That Killed Maryland Sisters A husband and wife from Long Island admitted fault after a fire killed two Maryland sisters staying at their vacation rental. Peter Miller, age 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal negligent homicide, and Pamela Miller, age 55, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Aug. 26. It came two years after sisters Lindsay Wiener, age 19, and Jillian Wiener, age 21, both of Potomac, Maryland, died in a fire at the couple’s Noyac rental home in August 2022. Earlier Report: Sisters On Vacation Killed In Hamptons House Fire According to prosecutors, …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Man Threatened To Burn Down Hagerstown Home During Dispute With Landlords: Fire Marshal Man Threatened To Burn Down Hagerstown Home During Dispute With Landlords: Fire Marshal
Man Threatened To Burn Down Hagerstown Home During Dispute With Landlords: Fire Marshal A dispute between a landlord and tenant turned fiery and landed one man behind bars in Washington County after he threatened to burn down the home he was renting, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal. Randy Sigler, 65, who was renting a home in Hagerstown, is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for threatening arson during a dispute with his landlord and her husband. Officials say that shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in the 13600 block of Grandview Drive to investigate a reported dispute between …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
'Crackling Noise, Glow' On Maryland Porch Alerted Family To Fire, Investigators Say 'Crackling Noise, Glow' On Maryland Porch Alerted Family To Fire, Investigators Say
'Crackling Noise, Glow' On Maryland Porch Alerted Family To Fire, Investigators Say A faulty extension cord is to blame for a Washington County fire that left a family displaced and destroyed a home in Hancock on Sunday afternoon, according to investigators. Four dozen firefighters from the Hancock Volunteer Fire Company responded at around 3 p.m. on July 21, when the occupants of a White Oak Ridge residence reported that a blaze has broken out in their home. According to the Maryland Fire Marshal, one occupant inside the home heard a crackling noise, and observed a glow outside the home, which turned out to be the flames that broke out on the front porch. The occupant wa…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Killed In Three-Alarm Maryland Blaze May Have Gone Back Into Home, Fire Marshal Says Man Killed In Three-Alarm Maryland Blaze May Have Gone Back Into Home, Fire Marshal Says
Man Killed In Three-Alarm Maryland Blaze May Have Gone Back Into Home, Fire Marshal Says One person was found dead after firefighters knocked down the flames of a three-alarm fire in Northern Maryland on Monday morning, officials say. Crews from the Frostburg Fire Department and nearby agencies were called at around 3:45 a.m. on July 22 in Allegany County, where a massive blaze broke out in a home on Welsh Hill Road in Frostburg. According to the Maryland Fire Marshal, 60 firefighters were able to get the situation under control in just 15 minutes, and once the fire was extinguished, they found one person inside. 1 of 10 FRM:messaging@iamresponding.com SUBJ:Eastern Garrett…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Firefighter Injured, Homes Damaged By Fast-Moving Fire In Maryland Firefighter Injured, Homes Damaged By Fast-Moving Fire In Maryland
Firefighter Injured, Homes Damaged By Fast-Moving Fire In Maryland One firefighter suffered minor injuries battling a three-alarm blaze that damaged several rowhomes in Baltimore on Tuesday morning. Crews were called at around 2:30 a.m. on June 25 to the 3000 block of Hudson Street in Canton, where there was a fast-moving fire that spread to multiple buildings, officials say. Baltimore Fire Department In total, eight homes and four rooftop decks were damaged. The injured firefighter was taken to the hospital for treatment and evaluation by paramedics. No other injuries were reported. Shortly b4 3 a.m @BaltimoreFire responded to the 3000 blk o…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
One Killed By Fast-Moving Maryland House Fire, Officials Say One Killed By Fast-Moving Maryland House Fire, Officials Say
One Killed By Fast-Moving Maryland House Fire, Officials Say The person pulled from a Harford County home died at the scene of a house fire, according to officials. Late on Tuesday morning on May 14, first responders from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company and nearby agencies were called to the 100 block of Marshall Drive in Forest Hill, when motorists on the Belair Bypass reported seeing smoke and flames coming from an area home. At 2 p.m., Harford County Fire and EMS officials announced that firefighters searching the home found a person inside who was rescued and ultimately pronounced dead at the scene after being treated. Firefighters arrived wi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Poorly Placed Portable Space Heater To Blame For Maryland House Blaze: Fire Officials Poorly Placed Portable Space Heater To Blame For Maryland House Blaze: Fire Officials
Poorly Placed Portable Space Heater To Blame For Maryland House Blaze: Fire Officials A portable space heater is to blame for a blaze that created several heroic neighbors in Washington County, fire officials say. At approximately 11:20 p.m. on Monday, April 22, crews from the Hagerstown Fire Department were called to the 700 block of Chestnut Street following reports of a house fire with people trapped inside a two-story home. Chestnut Street Fire Update The Hagerstown City Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the cause of the Chestnut Street... Posted by Hagerstown Fire Department on Thursday, May 2, 2024 Upon arrival, officials say that firefighters were met by …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Two-Alarm Car Fire Tears Through Harford County Garage, Home Two-Alarm Car Fire Tears Through Harford County Garage, Home
Two-Alarm Car Fire Tears Through Harford County Garage, Home A malfunctioning car that had just been parked in the garage of a Harford County home sparked a two-alarm blaze that caused approximately $500,000 in damage and left a family temporarily displaced, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal. First responders were called shortly before 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, when a fast-moving fire spread from the garage of a two-story home to the rest of the residence on Adelaide Lane in Bel Air. Volunteer Firefighters from @BelAirVolFireCo are on the scene of a house fire in the 500 block of Adelaide Lane in #BelAirMD. A 2nd alarm has been requeste…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Extreme Hoarding Conditions Hinder Firefighters Battling Maryland Blaze: Fire Marshal Extreme Hoarding Conditions Hinder Firefighters Battling Maryland Blaze: Fire Marshal
Extreme Hoarding Conditions Hinder Firefighters Battling Maryland Blaze: Fire Marshal Hoarding conditions made things difficult for fire crews on Sunday afternoon who were called in to battle a blaze that broke out in a Harford County duplex, officials say. Crews from the Susquehanna Hose Company and nearby agencies were called at around 1:30 p.m. on April 7 to Deaver Street in Havre de Grace, where a fire broke out, the homeowner reported. #SHCo & surrounding mutual aid companies are on scene of a house fire in the 100 block of Deaver Street. Please avoid area while crews work to extinguish the blaze. #HavredeGrace #HdG Posted by Susquehanna Hose Company on Sun…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Charging Lithium Ion Battery To Blame For Maryland House Fire, Officials Say Charging Lithium Ion Battery To Blame For Maryland House Fire, Officials Say
Charging Lithium Ion Battery To Blame For Maryland House Fire, Officials Say Another blaze broke out in a Maryland house due to a charging lithium-ion battery, according to the state fire marshal.  A crew of more than two dozen firefighters from the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company and nearby agencies were called shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning to the 2200 block of Queensbury Drive in Fallston, where the homeowners advised that a fire broke out in a bedroom. Firefighters were quickly able to knock down the flames, officials say, and contained the damage to the one bedroom, though approximately $50,000 in damage. Fallston Volunteer Fir…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Child Credited With Saving Herself, Dog From Harford County Bedroom Blaze Child Credited With Saving Herself, Dog From Harford County Bedroom Blaze
Child Credited With Saving Herself, Dog From Harford County Bedroom Blaze An 11-year-old girl is being credited with getting herself and a dog out of a Harford County home when a fire broke out in her bedroom on Thursday afternoon.  First responders from the Aberdeen Fire Department and nearby agencies were called shortly before 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 8 to a home on Cornell Street, where there was a reported fire inside the child's room following an electrical failure. According to the Maryland Fire Marshal, the girl discovered the fire in her bedroom and was able to call 911. She then got herself and the family's dog out while waiting for the fire department to …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
127-Year-Old Firehouse Destroyed By Massive Fire In DC 127-Year-Old Firehouse Destroyed By Massive Fire In DC
127-Year-Old Firehouse Destroyed By Massive Fire In DC All hands were on deck overnight as crews from throughout the area were called in to help battle a massive two-alarm fire that took down part of a DC firehouse that has stood since the 1800s.  Fire crews had their hands full on Friday night as flames tore through the former firehouse, which was under renovation in the 1600 block of North Capitol Street. First responders were called at around 7:15 p.m. on Friday when flames and smoke could be seen coming from the roof of the building. Update 2 Alarm fire 1600 block N. Capitol St NW. Defensive mode with large water streams from the e…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Mass Company Issues Recall On 30K Blankets, Throws Over Burn, Fire Concerns Mass Company Issues Recall On 30K Blankets, Throws Over Burn, Fire Concerns
Mass Company Issues Recall On 30K Blankets, Throws Over Burn, Fire Concerns The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on nearly 30,000 Berkshire Blanket & Home Company heated throws and blankets over issues with overheating that pose fire or burn risks.   The Ware-based company's blankets were sold under its name and the L.L. Bean brand, where they are sold in stores. The CPSC said in its recall notice that they were also sold at Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Amazon.com, Target.com, Macys.com, and QVC.com.  The company has received nine reports of the blankets and throws burning, melting, or overheating. No injur…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Doorbell Camera Alert Helps Pair Escape Maryland House Fire (VIDEO) Doorbell Camera Alert Helps Pair Escape Maryland House Fire (VIDEO)
Doorbell Camera Alert Helps Pair Escape Maryland House Fire (Video) Two people in Carroll County were able to escape a massive fire with an assist from a doorbell camera, officials say. First responders were called shortly after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, to the 5400 block of Mineral Hill Road in Eldersburg, when a fire broke out on the porch of an area home. According to a spokesperson for the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department, two people were in the house watching TV when a doorbell camera sent them an alert, prompting them to find the fire in the back of the house. UPDATE: Units on scene with a fully involved house. Crews are working fr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man In Hotel, Grandmother, Killed In Separate Carroll County Fires Hours Apart, Officials Say Man In Hotel, Grandmother, Killed In Separate Carroll County Fires Hours Apart, Officials Say
Man In Hotel, Grandmother, Killed In Separate Carroll County Fires Hours Apart, Officials Say Maryland Fire Marshal Brian Geraci has issued a call for homeowners to check on their smoke alarms following a pair of fatal fires in Carroll County that took the lives of two people within hours on Monday. It was a busy day for first responders in Carroll County on Monday, Feb. 20, as they were called into action at a Westminster hotel before a family reported a fire at a Taneytown townhouse, both involving failing smoke alarms. The day began shortly after 8:30 a.m., when the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department and neighboring agencies were called to the Boston Inn on Baltimore Bouleva…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman Dies In Three-Alarm Duplex Fire In Maryland Woman Dies In Three-Alarm Duplex Fire In Maryland
Woman Dies In Three-Alarm Duplex Fire In Maryland One person was killed in a massive three-alarm blaze that broke out in Northern Maryland late on Tuesday afternoon, the Maryland State Fire Marshal announced. In Allegany County, first responders from the Cumberland Fire Department were dispatched to a reported fire on Columbia Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, officials said. Upon arrival, firefighters were met by heavy smoke and flames coming from a two-story duplex that was quickly upgraded to a three-alarm fire, prompting crews from surrounding departments to answer the call. A woman is dead following a three-alarm …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Embers From Metal Grinder Cause Massive Two-Alarm Blaze In Maryland Garage: Fire Marshal Embers From Metal Grinder Cause Massive Two-Alarm Blaze In Maryland Garage: Fire Marshal
Embers From Metal Grinder Cause Massive Two-Alarm Blaze In Maryland Garage: Fire Marshal A married couple and their dog were able to escape harm when a two-alarm blaze broke out in a Maryland garage, according to the state fire marshal. In Carroll County, the owner of an Old New Windsor Pike residence in Westminster was working on one of his vehicles shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 when he noticed smoke coming from the car. Officials said that at the time the fire was discovered, the man was using a metal grinder on his vehicle, which contributed to sparking the flames when embers from his work spread. According to the fire marshal, the owner attempted to extinguish t…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Sprinkler System, Pawned Electronics Help Lead Investigators In Maryland To Arson Suspect Sprinkler System, Pawned Electronics Help Lead Investigators In Maryland To Arson Suspect
Sprinkler System, Pawned Electronics Help Lead Investigators In Maryland To Arson Suspect Investigators in Maryland are giving an assist to a sprinkler system and pawned big-ticket items that helped lead them to a wanted arson and burglary suspect, the state fire marshal announced. Terrell Anthony Duckett, 26, was charged by depute state fire marshals in St. Mary’s County following a lengthy investigation into a March 2022 Lexington Park fire where multiple items were stolen. On Wednesday, March 21, crews from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department responded to Valley Court, where there was a reported apartment fire. Upon arrival, officials said that firefighters located th…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Fire Sprinkler, Smoke Alarm Save Infant's Life In Maryland House Fire Fire Sprinkler, Smoke Alarm Save Infant's Life In Maryland House Fire
Fire Sprinkler, Smoke Alarm Save Infant's Life In Maryland House Fire A smoke alarm is being credited by state officials for saving an infant’s life and helping to reduce the damage done to a Maryland home after a fire broke out over the weekend, the fire marshal announced. In Harford County, crews from the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company and nearby agencies responded to a reported fire in the 2000 block of Arden Drive at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Officials said that the owner of the residence, who was outside, heard a smoke alarm sounding when a kitchen fire broke out, activating a fire…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Accidental Shed Fire Causes Thousands Of Dollars In Damage For Maryland Homeowner Accidental Shed Fire Causes Thousands Of Dollars In Damage For Maryland Homeowner
Accidental Shed Fire Causes Thousands Of Dollars In Damage For Maryland Homeowner An accidental shed fire in Maryland caused thousands of dollars worth of damage for a Cecil County homeowner, according to the state fire marshal. A structure fire was reported shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5 in the unit block of Colonial Way in Rising Sun, when smoke was found coming from the inside of a shed in the yard of an area home. Six firefighters from the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun responded to the property, and were able to extinguish the fire within minutes, though the shed sustained extensive damage to both the interior and exterior of the structure. In tota…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Homeowner Helps Contain Townhouse Fire In Maryland Homeowner Helps Contain Townhouse Fire In Maryland
Homeowner Helps Contain Townhouse Fire In Maryland A fast-acting Harford County homeowner helped limit the damage to her Maryland home after an electrical fire broke out on the Fourth of July. Shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday, July 4, a Darby Court resident returned home to find smoke billowing out of a second-story bedroom in a two-story townhouse at the end of the 2300 block. More than two dozen members of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company responded to the residence, and the flames were knocked down within five minutes, according to Fire Chief Bill Snyder. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental in nature due to an overload…

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by Zak Failla