Pets Perished in Cool Spring Road Blaze: Fire Marshal

Investigators are still working to identify what caused a house fire off MD 136 on Friday, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The blaze in the 2600 block of Cool Spring Road started in the kitchen and was reported by a passerby at 11:23 a.m. on Friday, the fire marshal said.

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Crews from Bel Air, Level, Darlington, Whiteford, Abingdon and the Susquehanna Hose Company responded, and approximately 40 firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour, the fire marshal reported.

Two dogs and one cat perished in the fire, according to the report. One cat was unaccounted for as of Saturday, the report said.

The family of four that lives in the residence—including three children under the age of 12—was being assisted by relatives, according to the fire marshal.

The residents were not home at the time of the fire, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

Gardiner said the fire caused serious damage to the second floor, and the first floor had smoke and fire damage. The home was equipped with smoke alarms, according to officials.

The fire marshal reported there was $200,000 in structural damage, and items inside the home valued at $50,000 were lost as well, the report said.

Photo Credit: Mark Ensor of Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.