$1 Million Damage Caused By Fire At Commercial Building

BELCAMP, MD — A fire broke out Thursday afternoon at Böttcher Systems in Belcamp, causing upwards of $1 million in damage.

Firefighters were called to the business, located at 4600 Mercedes Drive, shortly after 1 p.m.

Böttcher Systems develops and supplies elastomer-coated rollers and sleeves for a range of industries, including printing, packaging and industrial roller applications.

The fire was detected by an employee. Nearly 50 firefighters from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and the Abingdon Fire Company arrived and spend upwards of an hour battling the blaze.

Investigators with the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal believe the fire started in the building's exhaust duct or ventilation system.

The fire has been ruled accidental due to rubber dust igniting within the exhaust venting system.

While the blaze was contained to the exhaust system, the building sustained extension damage from smoke, soot and water. That damage has been estimated at $1 million.