Glen Burnie Smoker Starts Apartment Fire: Officials

GLEN BURNIE, MD — A Glen Burnie man was taken to a hospital after his cigarette started a fire in his apartment, fire officials say. Anne Arundel County Fire crews were called to a three-story apartment building in the 100 block of Southbridge Drive at 5:41 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters saw smoke in the terrace level hallway; when they entered an apartment a man was found unresponsive on the living room floor and a couch was on fire.

Fire crews extinguished the fire, keeping it contained to the couch. The 51-year-old victim was treated by paramedics and taken to the Burn Center at John Hopkins Bayview Hospital with injuries that were serious, but not believed to be life-threatening. His name has not been released by authorities.

The Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit said the cause of the fire was accidental, caused by a cigarette dropped onto the couch.

No residents were displaced from the building, and all of the apartments remain habitable. Damages are estimated at less than $1,000.

There were no other injuries.

Image via fire department