Dryer Sparks Townhouse Fire, Displacing 4 Kids And 2 Adults

ABINGDON, MD — Two adults and four children have been displaced after a fire damaged their two-story, middle-of-the-group townhouse Thursday night.

A resident had started the dryer in the basement around 8:24 p.m. and as the individual walked away, they heard a popping sound. That resident returned immediately and found a fire ablaze in the laundry room, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The mom used a garden hose to try and control the fire until she realized she couldn't stay there any longer and evacuated, officials stated.

The townhome, located in the 100 block of Laurel Woods Court, sustained $15,000 in structure damage and $10,000 in loss of contents.

Nearly three dozen firefighters responded and had the fire under control within five minutes. The preliminary cause of the fire has been blamed on an electrical failure.

The family is being assisted by Harford County Disaster Assistance.