Investigators Determine Cause of Reisterstown Blaze

Baltimore County fire investigators report that a candle caused the fire that tore through a dozen apartments in Reisterstown Tuesday, leaving more than $200,000 in damages and displacing many who lived there.

• 4 Hospitalized After Reisterstown Apartment Fire

A candle tipped over in a second-floor apartment in the 100 block of Caraway Road and the flames spread, drawing 75 firefighters to combat the fire at the Preserve at Owings Crossing, the Baltimore County Fire Department reported.

At 9:18 p.m. when crews responded, there was heavy fire showing from the building, where firefighters rescued seven people and a dog from the second and third stories, according to the report.

Ten people received medical evaluations, four of whom were hospitalized, the report said. The patients, who did not include any firefighters, had injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to officials.

By 9:51 p.m., the fire was reportedly under control.

Twelve apartments were declared uninhabitable, the fire department reported.

The blaze caused $200,000 in structural damage; and $75,000 in items inside were also lost, the report said.

Fire officials recommend these tips for candle safety:

• Leave a foot of space between a candle and anything it could burn.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended or out of sight.
• Avoid burning candles in places where people may fall asleep.

Screenshot from YouTube/benjie mdz.

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