Family Of 5 Displaced By Edgewood Townhouse Fire

EDGEWOOD, MD — Fire caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to an Edgewood townhouse Friday night and displaced a family of five, officials say. The fire was ruled accidental.

One of the tenants was home alone at 5:17 p.m. in the 1800 block of Grempler Way when he smelled smoke, found fire in a bedroom and called 911. There was a smoke alarm in the townhouse, investigators said, but it did not activate.

When crews arrived, they saw smoke coming from the residence, according to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.

Approximately 25 firefighters from Joppa-Magnolia, APG and Abingdon fire companies brought the blaze under control in five minutes, officials said.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal determined the fire started in a second-floor bedroom when an electrical failure ignited nearby bedding material.

The fire was primarily contained to the bedroom.

"Investigators credit a quick response by the fire department with containing the fire to the bedroom with minimum damage to the remainder of the home," the fire marshal said in a statement.

There was an estimated $20,000 in damage, with about $10,000 worth of items lost inside the residence and $10,000 in structural damage.

Two adults and three children — ages 3 and 5 years old and 9 months — were receiving assistance from the Red Cross, the fire marshal reported.

Photos courtesy of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.