Clarks Church Fire Causes $15K in Damage: Fire Marshal

The fire that broke out at a Bel Air church Wednesday night was ruled accidental, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

At 8:16 p.m., both the fire and smoke alarms activated at Clarks United Methodist Church, alerting the company that handles the alarm system and first responders, the fire marshal reported.

Sixteen firefighters from Bel Air and Darlington volunteer fire companies responded to the 2000 block of Kalmia Road and found fire in a stairwell inside the church, according to the report.

Within 10 minutes, they had brought the fire under control, the report said.

An electrical failure in the light ballast caused the blaze, which resulted in $15,000 in damage, according to the fire marshal.

Photo Credit: Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company Chief Rick Davis Jr.

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