A family pet is thought to be the cause of a fire that displaced five humans and 9 other dogs in a Saturday morning fire in Linthicum Heights.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to a 911 call reporting smoke in the home. First arriving firefighters arrived and reported smoke evident from the two-story, single-family home. All of the occupants were out, some assisted by first arriving Anne Arundel County Police Officers.
Firefighters quickly located and extinguished a fire in the kitchen area while simultaneously working to rescue eight puppies. The homeowner reported to firefighters that he woke up to the smoke alarms sounding. He discovered a fire in the kitchen that he tried to extinguish it before exiting the home.
Paramedics transported the five occupants of the home, two adults and three children, to MedStar Harbor Hospital for assessment of possible smoke inhalation. One Anne Arundel County Police Officer received a laceration to the hand while assisting an occupant escaping from a ground-level window.
Members of the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit have determined that the fire is accidental, originating on the stovetop (likely from a dog hitting the control knob on the stove).
A total of 41 firefighters responded to the incident from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department assisted by the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Fire & Rescue Department. The fire took ten minutes to bring under control. Total damage to the home is estimated to be $20,000.
The Red Cross is assisting the five occupants and 10 dogs displaced as a result of the fire.
