$300K in Damage, 3 Pets Lost in Norrisville Road Blaze: Fire Marshal

JARRETTSVILLE, MD — Four residents escaped from a house fire early Tuesday morning in Jarrettsville, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Discarded smoking material caused the blaze, which broke out at 2:49 a.m. in the 3900 block of Norrisville Road, the fire marshal reported.

Crews from Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company found a "well-involved fire" when they arrived, said Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association spokesman Rich Gardiner.

Within 45 minutes, Gardiner said the blaze had been placed under control by firefighters from Harford County and York County, Pennsylvania.

Investigators determined the fire started on the basement's side porch.

Two residents who lived in the basement were able to get out using the basement steps, call 911 and alert other people in the house, the fire marshal reported.

Officials said three cats perished in the blaze.

There was $250,000 in structural damage to the house, where $50,000 worth of items inside were also lost, according to the fire marshal.

Photo Credit: Bob Stower, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.