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Nearly two dozen firefighters from the Bel Air Fire Department were called at around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 to the 1600 block of Junius Court when a neighbor reported that the exterior of a home was on fire.
First responders were quickly able to knock down the flames in less than a half hour, though it caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the single-family home.
It was later determined that the fire was accidental in nature due to improperly discarded ashes from a previous bon fire, prompting the fire marshal to issue a stern warning, noting that similar instances have led to more devastating fires locally and across the nation.
"Treat all ashes and coals as hot ashes, even when you think they had time enough to cool," officials said. "Take care to dispose of them wisely. Your house, deck or garage are unsafe locations for storing ashes while they cool."
Homeowners have been advised to store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside and at least 10 feet from your home or nearby buildings.
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