Smoke Alarms Save Lives Of Sleeping Joppa Residents: Fire Marshal

JOPPA, MD — Officials say that smoke alarms saved the lives of a Joppa couple Saturday morning. According to authorities, the husband and wife had been asleep in their home when they were awakened at 6:42 a.m.

Once smoke alarms alerted the couple in the 400 block of Timber Lane, officials said they found fire in the basement. They tried to put out the blaze themselves with a portable fire extinguisher and all-purpose baking flour but were unsuccessful, officials said.

Flames began to blanket the residence, and the couple escaped.

First arriving crews from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company found fire showing and requested backup. There were no hydrants in the area, and crews from Baltimore and Harford counties arrived to assist.

Approximately 45 firefighters battled the blaze for an hour, the fire marshal said. Crews from Joppa-Magnolia, Bel Air, Abingdon, Aberdeen, Fallston, Aberdeen, Level, Kingsville and Perry Hall were among those responding.

Crews took hoses inside the house, where Joppa-Magnolia reported the fire was "rapidly progressing." The fire was declared under control at 8:13 a.m., according to the fire company.

Multiple agencies provided support during the firefighting operation. The Darlington Volunteer Fire Company helped replenish air supply for the firefighters, and the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's rehab unit provided refreshments. Jarrettsville crews covered calls for Joppa during the response. The Harford County Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic control, the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company reported.

The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company said its crews were at the scene for four hours, where its tanker provided water.

Authorities said the house was considered a complete loss. The fire caused a half million dollars in damage; there was an estimated $325,000 in structural damage, while $125,000 worth of items were lost in the blaze.

The residents are being assisted by the Red Cross and friends, the fire marshal reported. Two cats perished, officials said.

The fire began in the basement of the home, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation Saturday, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

"Deputy State Fire Marshals credit working smoke alarms for saving the lives of the occupants," officials said.

Smoke Alarm Reminder

Two-thirds of all home fire deaths nationally occur in homes with either no smoke alarm or no working smoke alarm, usually because they are missing batteries or they have been disconnected.

A new law took effect on Jan. 1, 2018, in Maryland requiring battery-operated smoke alarms be updated to 10-year sealed battery units. By sealing the battery inside the alarm, officials say the device becomes tamper-resistant and will save lives.

Maryland's Smoke Alarm Law requires the replacement of all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. This applies to both hard-wired and battery-operated smoke alarms.

Photos of the March 3 house fire in Joppa courtesy of the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

Joppa-Magnolia also shared video from the helmet camera of one of its firefighters:

SEE ALSO: New Maryland Safety Law Takes Effect January 1 2018