Fire officials are crediting a smoke alarm for saving the lives of a Joppa family after it awakened and alerted them to a fire in their basement, which eventually consumed the entire house.
Just before 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, emergency personnel were dispatched to the 400 block of Timber Lane in Joppa for the report of a dwelling fire in a one-story, single-family home.
The occupants were in bed and awoke to the sound of smoke alarms. Upon checking they discovered a fire within the basement. Both the husband and wife attempted to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher as well as all-purpose baking flour to no avail. The fire quickly spread beyond their control. Both occupants were able to escape the fire, but two cats perished.
Forty-five firefighters from Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, Bel Air, Abingdon, Fallston, Aberdeen, Kingsville, and Perry Hall responded to the single-alarm blaze and had it under control within an hour.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal estimated the fire caused $375,000 in damage to the house and another $125,000 in damage to its contents. There were no injuries reported.
The home and all contents are considered a complete loss by investigators. Friends and the American Red Cross are assisting. Deputy State Fire Marshals credit working smoke alarms for saving the lives of the occupants.
The preliminary cause of the fire remains under investigation.
a says
I always love the awesome pictures of raging fires taken by fire personnel with out a hose or anyone doing a damn thing about the fire. You would think there is something more pressing than getting the perfect shot.
County Asshole says
LOL
Do you think the photographer was “driver only” on the “engine?”
The Communicator says
Why don’t you two Monday Morning Quarterbacks put your money where your mouth is and volunteer at your local fire department? We could use the help.
Phillip says
The volunteer fire departments should stop molesting recruits..
That should save some time.
Uncle Jerry’s Antifreeze meatballs says
Why would someone want to volunteer with someone like dog killer Jerry Scarborough, a trash human being
County Asshole says
Why don’t I volunteer? That’s a good question.
Besides Monday morning quarterbacking, I don’t have the time.
So I would literally be like everyone else who are volunteers for our fire departments, not showing up. I’m not interested in screwing people, so I will not volunteer because I know I cannot fill the obligation.
Good reason to have a “career” service, eh?
a says
But if you join you could get some really cool action photos of volunteers watching peoples stuff burn.
The Communicator says
If you don’t have the time to volunteer, then don’t criticize the people who find the time to volunteer.
cyniskeptic says
Amen. I think Harford County outgrew VFD 20-30 years ago.
a says
If you go to the fire blog facebook page they have lots of cool pictures but not one with anyone doing anything. Looks like a county road crew all standing around while it burns.
Pamela says
I’m glad they made it out alive.
The Central Scrutinizer says
If I am correct VFD’s are actually paid. Are their not tax breaks? I don’t know if its the same here but in NY the hours spent volunteering are credited to a retirement pension.
Drinking Soda Pop says
Whatever happened to the Harford Fire Facts Facebook? Take a look at all the (old) driver only calls.
It’s all Monday morning quarterbacking until you have an ambulance show up/driver only, which means we have to evidently wait for someone else to show up while the person who drove the ambulance just sits in the cab with the expensive emergency LED light package flashing.
I’m not even sure why they even leave the “house” with the ambulance not staffed.
Fucking idiots.
Drinking Soda Pop says
I understand there has been a huge shift of interest with people not volunteering/being employed with public safety anymore, fire fighters, EMT, Police, etc. but..
Why would the ambulance leave understaffed? It’s almost like it’s just to say they never not respond to a 911 call.
I also realize some “busier” areas have multiple full paid Advance Life support crews.
I surely think this County run ambulance service should have been implemented 2 decades ago, and by now, we should have been debating where the first Harford County Fire Department “house” will be built.
Surely we can attract enough candidates to get paid for fire/rescue service.