Harford Firefighter Injured By Candle Fire In Street: Officials

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A candle that had been left unattended sparked a basement fire in Harford County over the weekend that injured one person, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

A resident in the 100 block of Cherry Hill Road came home and found heat and smoky conditions throughout the house, including heavy black smoke when he opened the basement door, the fire marshal reported.

Officials said the man shut the door and called 911 before 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21.

Crews from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company assisted the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company at the scene and within 10 minutes, officials said the fire was under control.

One Jarrettsville firefighter was hospitalized with a minor injury, the fire marshal reported.

The home sustained moderate smoke and soot damage to the first and second floors, according to investigators.

Firefighters "made the determination that this was a working basement fire [and] the first in company made sure to go directly to the basement from the exterior (pictured) in a successful effort to save the rest of the house," according to a statement from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

There was $50,000 in structural damage and $50,000 worth of items inside the home were lost, investigators said.