A two-alarm fire Monday night destroyed a Joppa home and a collection of 13 vehicles including antique cars and race cars, fire officials said, and caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage.
The blaze is also believed to have claimed the lives of three pets, and took 75 firefighters from seven local departments an hour and a half to bring under control, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
The blaze was reported just before 6:30 p.m. at a home on the 2400 block of Bluefield Circle in Joppa when passerby spotted the fire in the home’s garage, according to the state fire marshal’s office. Units from the Joppa-Magnolia, Fallston, Bel Air, Kingsville and Aberdeen Proving Ground fire companies were dispatched to the scene, and found the two-story wood frame home heavily involved in fire.
According to the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, additional large-capacity tankers, engines and support units were called for to transport large quantities of water to the scene and provide additional firefighters to battle the blaze.
“As structural collapses within the dwelling began occurring, a defensive operation was called for using large caliber streams from a safe distance,” Dave Williams, spokesman for the association, said in an e-mail. “Final extinguishment of all visible fire was completed with the use of fire-fighting foam to reach areas within the collapsed debris.”
In addition to the initial units, firefighters from the Level, Abingdon and Long Green Valley fire companies also responded to the scene. A total of 75 firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 90 minutes, with the last units leaving the scene at 11:15 p.m.
The home’s owners were present at the time of the fire, but neither they nor any firefighters sustained injuries in the blaze. However, three family pets are missing and presumed dead.
Damage to the home was estimated at $500,000, the state fire marshal’s office said. Damage to the home’s contents was estimated at $1 million, among them a collection of 13 vehicles including three motorcycles, antique cars, race cars and an RV.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by fire officials.
Another great victory for Harford County’s volunteer firemen. I’ll just bet the homeowner appreciates all that tax money he’s saved by not having to pay for a real fire service over the years.
Beemerman
I hope you have good luck finding a “real” fire department to help you out should the need ever arise….
Kind of insulting to the hard working volunteers who will be there to save your rear when you need it….don’t you think?
Typical paid Tuesday am quarter back learn the facts prior to having diarrhea of the oral cavity