Ashes In Plastic Wheelbarrow Spark Porch Fire At Joppa Home

JOPPA, MD — A fire broke out on the rear porch of a Joppa home Monday, causing an estimated $25,000 in damage.

The fire was discovered by a neighbor of the one-story single-family home located in the 400 block of Gilmoor Road in Joppa around 5:08 p.m.

The neighbor grabbed a garden hose and extinguished most of the fire while firefighters were on their way. Other neighbors used portable fire extinguishers to help contain the blaze, officials said.

Firefighters with the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company spent just two minutes gaining control of the fire, which did not spread.

Investigators with the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal ruled the fire as accidental and attributed it to ashes from an outside camp stove that were place in a plastic wheelbarrow on the back porch.