MIND FROM A BLOCK OF TOWNHOMES BURNED TO THE GROUND IN HARFORD COUNTY TO A HOME UP IN FLAMES AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY HOUSE FIRES ARE ON THE RISE HERE IN MARYLAND. THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND, WE SAW AN UPTICK IN THESE FIRES. WE SAW MOST OF THESE FIRES ORIGINATING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE OR BUSINESS. SO THAT’S ODD. MASTER DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL OLIVER ALKER SAYS THAT’S THE CASE IN ABERDEEN, WHERE 26 PEOPLE MADE IT OUT SAFELY. BUT ARE NOW WITHOUT A HOME AFTER THE SATURDAY FIRE. IF A FIRE OCCURS, GET OUT. STAY OUT. THAT’S OUR MESSAGE. SO MANY PEOPLE GO BACK INTO THESE HOMES AND FORTUNATE EARLY IN THIS CASE IN ABERDEEN, NO ONE DID. ONE TOWN OVER IN BELL CAMP, ANOTHER TOWNHOME CAUGHT FIRE ON SUNDAY CAUSED BY A FAN IN THE ATTIC AND IN THE HEART OF ELKTON, A FIRE DAMAGED THE HISTORIC FORMER HOWARD HOUSE, ALONG WITH A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND THREE APARTMENTS NEXT TO IT, LEAVING NINE PEOPLE DISPLACED AND ONE FIREFIGHTER RECOVERING FROM AN INJURY MONDAY MORNING, THREE FIREFIGHTERS WERE HURT IN A SOUTHWEST BALTIMORE GARAGE FIRE AND YET ANOTHER FIRE DESTROYED. AN EDGEWATER HOME MONDAY AFTERNOON. THIS ONE STARTING INSIDE BEFORE REACHING TWO ALARMS. EVERYONE MADE IT OUT SAFELY. ALCOA SAYS THE CAUSE OF EACH OF THESE FIRES IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT HE’S ADDING A REMINDER AS WE ENTER A MORE FIRE PRONE TIME OF YEAR WITH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WE SEE MORE FOLKS OUTSIDE. SO WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE FIRE SAFE. FIRE IS FAST. YOU KNOW, IT’S GOING TO RAPIDLY SPREAD BEYOND YOUR CONTROL WITHOUT EVEN YOU KNOWING IT. SO WE HAD SOME OTHER REMINDERS, SAY IF YOU PLAN TO USE A CHARCOAL GRILL, MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE GET RID OF THOSE ASHES PROPERLY. HE ALSO SAYS LEAVE FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS. AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE A FIRE ALARM, JUST REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WILL HELP YOU GET ONE. LIVE I
Fire officials emphasize safety after multiple dangerous house fires
Updated: 10:22 PM EDT May 22, 2023
Fire officials are warning about a rise in house fires across Maryland. These warnings come on the heels of several large fires seen in Aberdeen and Edgewater.”This particular weekend, we saw an uptick in these fires. We saw most of these fires originating on the exterior of the house or business, so that’s odd,” said master deputy state fire marshal Oliver Alkire.He said that’s the case in Aberdeen, where 26 people made it out safely, but are now without homes after the Saturday fire.”If a fire occurs, get out, stay out. That’s our message. So many people go back into these homes. Fortunately, in this case in Aberdeen, no one did,” said Alkire.Just one town over in Belcamp, another townhome caught fire Sunday, caused by a fan in the attic.And in the heart of Elkton, a fire damaged the historic former Howard House, along with a commercial building and three apartments next to it, leaving nine people displaced and one firefighter injured.Monday morning, three firefighters were hurt in a southwest Baltimore garage fire.And another fire destroyed an Edgewater home Monday afternoon. That one started inside before reaching two-alarm status. Everyone made it out safely, according to fire officials.Alkire said the cause of each of these fires is under investigation. He reminded residents that we are entering a more fire-prone time of year.”With Memorial Day weekend, we see more folks outside. So, what we’re looking for is for people to be fire safe. Fire is fast. It’s going to rapidly spread without you even knowing it,” he said.His tips — get rid of ashes properly when using a charcoal grill. Leave fireworks to the professionals. Finally, if you need a fire alarm, just reach out to your local fire department.
Fire officials are warning about a rise in house fires across Maryland. These warnings come on the heels of several large fires seen in Aberdeen and Edgewater.
“This particular weekend, we saw an uptick in these fires. We saw most of these fires originating on the exterior of the house or business, so that’s odd,” said master deputy state fire marshal Oliver Alkire.
He said that’s the case in Aberdeen, where 26 people made it out safely, but are now without homes after the Saturday fire.
“If a fire occurs, get out, stay out. That’s our message. So many people go back into these homes. Fortunately, in this case in Aberdeen, no one did,” said Alkire.
Just one town over in Belcamp, another townhome caught fire Sunday, caused by a fan in the attic.
And in the heart of Elkton, a fire damaged the historic former Howard House, along with a commercial building and three apartments next to it, leaving nine people displaced and one firefighter injured.
Monday morning, three firefighters were hurt in a southwest Baltimore garage fire.
And another fire destroyed an Edgewater home Monday afternoon. That one started inside before reaching two-alarm status. Everyone made it out safely, according to fire officials.
Alkire said the cause of each of these fires is under investigation. He reminded residents that we are entering a more fire-prone time of year.
“With Memorial Day weekend, we see more folks outside. So, what we’re looking for is for people to be fire safe. Fire is fast. It’s going to rapidly spread without you even knowing it,” he said.
His tips — get rid of ashes properly when using a charcoal grill. Leave fireworks to the professionals. Finally, if you need a fire alarm, just reach out to your local fire department.
