$100K Damage Caused By Unattended Pot Of Grease Cooking In Kitchen: MD Fire Marshal

BEL AIR, MD — A fire broke out Tuesday just before 7 a.m. at a two-story middle of the group townhouse in Bel Air.

The townhome, located at 777 White Oak Drive in Bel Air, is part of Wakefield Manor Townhomes. According to the Maryland State Office of the Fire Marshal, a resident stepped away from a pot of grease and returned to find a kitchen fire. She tried to extinguish the fire but couldn't, so she called 911 and left the home.

Around 30 firefighters with the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company arrived and gained control of the fire within 10 minutes. The kitchen fire caused around $100,000 in damage and loss of contents.

Deputy state fire marshals said that the first Bel Air police officer on the scene helped contain the fire by shutting the front door and reducing the amount of oxygen that fueled the fire before firefighters arrived.

"This action and the fire department's quick response contained the fire to the first floor," the state fire marshal's office said.