Dog Saved Owners From Bel Air Blaze: Fire Marshal

BEL AIR, MD — Two cats perished in a house fire Sunday evening in Bel Air where two residents suffered smoke inhalation and a firefighter fell through the floor, officials said.

A service dog alerted the residents of the home — a hearing-impaired couple — that the smoke alarm sounded at 7:01 p.m., according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The couple got out of the home in the 200 block of Wakely Terrace, and approximately 40 firefighters from Bel Air, Abingdon, Joppa-Magnolia and Fallston responded and brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes, the fire marshal said.

At the scene, one firefighter from Bel Air fell through the floor into the basement. After being evaluated, he reportedly declined transport.

The homeowners were taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released, according to authorities.

Two cats were believed to have perished in the blaze, which the fire marshal said started in the basement. Authorities said the cause of the fire was under investigation as of Monday morning.

As a result of the blaze, there was $50,000 in structural damage, it was estimated that $50,000 worth of items inside the residence were also lost.

The Red Cross was reportedly assisting the couple and their three teenage children.

Related: Bel Air House Fire Sends 2 To Hospital

Photo courtesy of Harford Fire Blog/Andy Doyle, via the Office of the State Fire Marshal.