Fire Ignites Outpouring of Support in Meadowridge Landing

More than 100 people congregated in Elkridge on Sunday to support residents whose home was destroyed by a .

In Meadowridge Landing, a neighborhood off Huntshire Drive, the community came together in a cul-de-sac facing the charred home on Grainger Court to collect donations for the victims.

Some had known homeowner Guinevere Miles for 13 years. Others had yet to meet her. Kelda Dunklin, who lives on a nearby street, told Patch that while she didn’t know Miles personally, her 11-year-old son Justin was adamant that they attend the gathering so he could make a donation from his allowance.

Miles was moved to tears several times. “I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to say,” she told Patch. “I didn’t know people cared so much.”

Among the Sunday afternoon crowd were members of the (EVFD) who put out the blaze, including fellow Meadowridge Landing resident Mike Courtenmach.

The firefighters and several neighbors recounted the experience of that evening.

At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 7, the fire that started in Miles’ home spread through her house and to others nearby. The cause is still under investigation and damage to Miles’ house is estimated to be $375,000, according to Howard County Fire Department spokeswoman Jackie Cutler.

The first firefighter on the scene that night, Lieutenant Brian Shipley of EVFD, returned on Sunday to show his support for the neighborhood. He said that doing things out in the community was just as important as putting out fires. He and his crew even brought out their gear so the neighborhood kids could play dress-up.

But Shipley lost the lighthearted tone when recalling what it was like in the same neighborhood on Feb. 7, stating there was fire coming from everywhere but the front door and the garage.

Miles and her mother, Leila Smith, were on their way home from dinner at a nearby restaurant when they discovered what happened.

On Monday night, Miles had gotten home from work around 8 p.m. and invited her mother to go out to dinner. Normally, Miles said her mother declines but that night, Smith said she wanted to go. When they came back, Grainger Court was blocked off and “the upstairs was engulfed in flames,” said Miles of her house of 13 years.

The first person who noticed the blaze was the son of Jerry Dix, Miles’ next-door neighbor.

“We were in the kitchen when he saw it,” said Dix, who ran outside to help.

Meanwhile, his wife called 911 and their children went across the street to safety. Dix said there weren’t any cars in front of the flaming house to indicate people were home; but since Smith didn’t drive, he couldn’t be sure. He said he would’ve gone in if he could, but as the wind picked up, the scene was “terrifying."

Across the street, other neighbors watched in horror.

“There was nothing but black smoke all around and things exploding from the core,” said Berna Mueller, who lives in the house across from Miles. “I think it shook up a lot of people.”

Since the tragic event, she said her 6-year-old has been asking “‘Are we next?’”

In the aftermath of the fire, other neighbors reported that Bellows Spring Elementary School has offered counseling for children who were affected.

Wendy Bourque, who lives one street over on Sedgwick, is keenly aware of the fire's impact on her household. "Mentally, I'm preparing," said Bourque, who saw the blaze close up as she helped firefighters with the hose when they needed additional manpower.

“It looked like a bonfire in the shape of a house," she recalled. Since then, she has changed the batteries in her smoke detector and contemplated getting extra fire extinguishers for her home.

While at the gathering in Meadowridge Landing, members of the EVFD offered the following fire safety tips:

• Know two ways to get out of your house.
• Change the batteries in your smoke detector; it’s best to change them every six months.
• Check the fire extinguishers in your home to make sure they haven’t expired. Bring them to the EVFD for free inspection if you’re unsure.

Kelly Ryan volunteered to organize the Feb. 13 event. Ryan’s husband, Dan, is president of the Meadowridge Landing Homeowners Association, which coordinates several get-togethers throughout the year. However, this one was only planned two days in advance.

Kelly Ryan said she was compelled to do something because of all the people who spoke up wanting to help. She wasn't sure how much was collected monetarily but was overwhelmed by the turnout, estimating there were at least 100 people who came. (If you couldn't make it but would like to donate, email her at kvryan1112@aol.com.)

Miles, who lost everything inside her home, said that there is so much lost that she can't pinpoint what it is she needs. She twinged while speaking of items like her daughter’s ballerina pictures and her children’s report cards, things she had been saving in case her son and daughter, who are in their 20s and living in Baltimore, wanted them later on.

“It’s just stuff,” said Miles, trying to keep everything in perspective. “We’re thankful that we’re alive.”

While the house is being rebuilt, Miles said the insurance company will set them up with an apartment or temporary living arrangement. For now, she and her mother are staying at a hotel in Columbia, trying to get back on their feet. In fact, Miles planned to return to her job as an applications specialist at Fannie Mae this week.

For now, she said, “We’re just trying to get back to normalcy.”

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to indicate the correct title of Lieutenant Brian Shipley. A previous version incorrectly stated that he was a corporal.