Space Heater Sets Severn Townhouse On Fire, Causes $75K In Damage

SEVERN, MD — A Severn home caught fire Sunday night after a space heater malfunctioned. Fire officials say the flames caused about $75,000 in damage to a townhouse in the 8400 block of Pioneer Drive.

The lone occupant of the house told firefighters that they heard a pop and saw smoke coming from the space heater and nearby electrical outlet. When crews arrived to the scene around 10:30 p.m., they saw smoke coming from the second-floor windows. That led firefighters to the upstairs bedroom where they found the blaze.

A team of 30 controlled the flames within 10 minutes. Crews from the Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport Fire and Rescue Department and Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services aided the Anne Arundel County Fire Department's response.

An incident report says the fire was accidental. The dwelling's smoke detectors sounded, allowing the resident to escape.

Though the home is sandwiched in the middle of a bank of townhouses, none of the neighboring residences were affected. The fire did not cause any injuries.

The home's lone occupant was displaced, however. Their family is assisting them with housing.

As fall and winter approach, space heater usage will ramp up. The National Fire Protection Association offers these tips on how to safely operate the devices:

• Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.
• Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and keep people 3 feet away.
• Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.
• Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
• Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.
• Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
• Keep children away from the space heater.
• Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
• Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.

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