Two Columbia Businesses Damaged by Fourth of July Fire: Officials

Columbia, MD — Two businesses on Harpers Farm Road were damaged by a fire on the Fourth of July, officials said.

The blaze began in Lynn's Day Spa before 5:30 a.m. on Monday, July 4, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. A passerby saw it and alerted authorities.

Crews found heavy smoke and fire when they arrived at the building in the 5900 block of Harpers Farm Road.

Officials said that, in addition to the spa, DaVita Dialysis was affected by smoke.

Crews initially called for two alarms when they arrived and saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the side of a building, so firefighters from Prince George's and Montgomery counties were alerted; however, those on scene quickly brought the blaze under control and downgraded the incident, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and was not available Monday afternoon.

Lynn's Day Spa also experienced a fire in December 2008 at its former location on Little Patuxent Parkway, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported that blaze caused $1 million in damage.

Photo Credit: Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.