Townhouse Fire in Belcamp Displaces Family: Fire Marshal

Photo Credit: Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

A woman and two children were displaced from their townhouse in Belcamp following a fire Thursday that was ruled an accident, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The fire started in a middle-of-the-group townhouse in the 1200 block of Musket Court, where the residents on either side smelled smoke Thursday afternoon, the fire marshal reported.

At 4:10 p.m., a neighbor notified authorities, and crews from Joppa-Magnolia, Abingdon, Aberdeen, Bel Air, APG and Susquehanna Hose Company responded, the report said.

Approximately 45 firefighters brought the blaze under control within 25 minutes, according to the report.

Investigators determined the fire began in an electrical outlet in the kitchen.

According to the fire marshal, BGE disconnected power to the residence a week ago and remotely turned it on at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. An electrical failure in an outlet sparked the fire, the report said.

One adult and two children were displaced, the fire marshal reported; the Red Cross and Harford County Disaster Assistance were assisting them.

There was $50,000 in structural damage to the home, the fire marshal said; in addition, $25,000 worth of items inside the residence were lost.

Initial report

Several crews responded to a fire in Belcamp Thursday afternoon that was under control within an hour, according to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

At 4:25 p.m. on Thursday, Joppa-Magnolia reported that it dispatched firefighters to assist Abingdon Fire at the scene of a townhouse blaze in the 1200 block of Musket Court in Belcamp.

Two fire engines and a fire chief were called to the fire ground, Joppa-Magnolia reported.

A hook-and-ladder truck from Darlington also responded, according to the report.

By 5:15 p.m., the fire had been brought under control and crews were clearing the scene, according to the fire company.