Joppa Hardware Store Blaze Sparked by Electrical Failure; 3-Alarm Fire Caused $1 Million in Damage

From the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office:

A team of Deputy State Fire Marshals along with agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have determined the most probable cause of the fire at Anderson’s Hardware to be a result of an electrical fault or failure of enclosed wiring. The property, located at 900 Pulaski Highway in Joppa, Maryland, was heavily damaged during the blaze.

After an exhaustive examination of the structure, combined with witness interviews and reviews of evidence collected at the scene, investigators determined the fire originated between the ceiling over the first floor and the wooden floor of the second floor storage area.

The three alarm blaze originally occurred at approximately 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. An estimated 80 emergency services personnel fought to control the blaze within 4 hours. Two firefighters from Aberdeen Proving Grounds were treated and released from area hospitals after receiving injuries on the scene of the fire.

Loss damage estimates to the structure and contents is $1,000,000.