Tag Archives: Maryland

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Hampstead, MD – Sprinkler system activated for second-floor townhouse fire

The Office of the State Fire Marshal stated that discarded smoking materials was the cause of an accidental fire in a second-floor bedroom of a townhouse in Hampstead Monday night.

Almost exactly 24 hours after a fire destroyed a home in the same town Sunday, a bedroom fire on the 4800 block of Hillock Lane was called into the Hampstead volunteer fire company at 5:48 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Dispatchers arrived at the scene within minutes, according to the company’s public information officer, Chuck Fusco, and the fire was under control within 20 minutes.

Approximately eight fire companies responded to the fire, the first arriving from Hampstead, Manchester and Baltimore County. When responders saw it was a working fire, additional units — including Reese and Glyndon — were dispatched.

The office estimated total damages to be approximately $50,000, about $30,000 in damages to the structure and $20,000 in loss of contents, according to a notice of investigation from the fire marshal’s office issued Tuesday morning. There were no injuries.

A smoke alarm was present and working and a sprinkler system activated, according to the fire marshal’s office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Northeast Regional Office at 410-836-4844 or submit tips online at mdosfm.wixsite.com/blog.

Residential, Single Family Home

Finksburg, MD – Single-family house fire quickly controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire in the 1900 block of Old Westminster Pike in Finksburg was put under control quickly Friday morning. A call went out at 9:44 a.m for a fire at a single-family dwelling. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, but a $15,000 loss to the structure and contents was estimated, according to a notice of investigation from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.   Reese Volunteer Fire Company was the primary responding agency, and about 40 firefighters were able to control the fire within five minutes, according to the notice. A smoke alarm and sprinkler were both present and activated. The preliminary cause is listed as “accidental due to an electrical event,” according to the notice.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hagerstown, MD – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by automatic sprinkler system

A sprinkler system extinguished a fire last Monday afternoon in the kitchen of an apartment on Little Elliott Drive, according to Hagerstown Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven.  DeHaven said an occupant in a third-floor apartment at 12817 Little Elliott Drive, off Leitersburg Pike, was attempting to cook food in oil, which overheated and caught fire.  The occupant put the burning pan in a sink and poured water on it, which caused the fire to flare, he said.  A sprinkler system extinguished the blaze by the time firefighters arrived.  Although six occupants in the apartment were able to remain in the unit, six occupants in lower apartments were displaced due to water damage to the electrical system, DeHaven said.  Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 4:05 p.m.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Hagerstown, MD – Fire in apartment building for the elderly and disabled is extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Fire broke out in a fifth-floor apartment in Potomac Towers on West Baltimore Street Wednesday night, according to a Washington County 911 supervisor.  The fire was reported about 9:45 p.m., and was determined to be caused by food on a stove, the supervisor said.  The fire was extinguished, although firefighters were dealing with a lot of water in the building from a sprinkler system, the supervisor said.  Potomac Towers is a multi-story building that provides housing for elderly and disabled residents.

Uncategorized

Columbia, MD – Sprinkler system contains fire while crews arrive

A small fire drew firefighters to Oakland Mills on Thursday evening, officials said. Crews credited a sprinkler with containing the situation.

At 9:25 p.m., the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reported its personnel were in the 5700 block of Stevens Forest Road, where smoke was showing.

While a small fire was at the scene, officials said a sprinkler had activated and kept the blaze under control.

This was the second fire in Columbia on Thursday that Howard County firefighters handled.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Chestertown, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in college dormitory; No injuries reported

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is continuing its investigation of Wednesday morning’s fire in one of Washington College’s dormitories. Public Safety Director Jerry Roderick said officers observed flames and smoke in the second floor suite of Talbot House at about 11:30 a.m. as the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department was responding. Roderick said the sprinkler system in the dorm activated, extinguishing the fire. Roderick said there was smoke and water damage to the building. No injuries were reported. The two students who were displaced will be put up in other college housing.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ellicott City, MD – Apartment kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system

Fire broke out at an Ellicott City apartment Friday evening. Officials said they were called to Pine Orchard Lane before 5:30 p.m. for a report of a kitchen fire.

Soon after they arrived at the 3100 block of Pine Orchard Lane, crews reported the fire was under control.

After checking to ensure the flames had not spread, officials declared the blaze out as of 5:45 p.m.

Thanks to the sprinkler system in the apartment building, authorities reported the fire was contained to the room where it started.

Other Business

Fallston, MD – Fire that started in movie theater popcorn machine controlled with help from spinklers

A small fire inside a movie theater Tuesday, prompted an emergency response from local fire stations.  Just before 11:30 a.m., Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance along with the Joppa – Magnolia Fire Company responded to the Horizon Cinemas located at 2315 Bel Air Road in Fallston.  Upon arrival, units discovered one of the buildings sprinkler systems activated after a popcorn machine caught fire.  No injuries were reported according to Chief Dave Williams, of Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company.

Apartment Building, Residential

Columbia, MD – Apartment kitchen fire put out by sprinkler system

A fire overnight in Columbia sent one person to the hospital, according to officials. Authorities said Thursday morning that the victim’s injuries were minor.  Firefighters were called to a residence in the 5400 block of Cedar Lane for an automatic fire alarm, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.  At the location, crews found a small kitchen fire that had been put out by the sprinkler system in the building.

One resident was taken to Howard County General Hospital with what officials said were minor injuries.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Hagerstown, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes blaze at Villa Italian Kitchen

A cooking fire Thursday afternoon caused about $2,500 in damages to Villa Italian Kitchen at Premium Outlets, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

A sprinkler system activated when the 2:20 p.m. fire broke out and the system extinguished the blaze before firefighters arrived, according to a news release.

The fire was discovered by Jeffrey A. Bohrer, general manager of the eatery, the release said.

The blaze caused $1,000 in damages to contents in the shop, the release said.