Three-Alarm Fire Damages Eight Apartments in Bel Air Complex; 24 People Displaced Following Blaze

From the Office of the State Fire Marshal:

BEL AIR, MD (November 14, 2013) – Deputy State Fire Marshals are continuing to investigate the cause of an early morning fire that damaged 8 of the 18 units of the 3-story condominium structure at 219 Crocker Drive in Bel Air, Harford County.

The 4:19 AM three-alarm blaze took nearly 60 firefighters from Bel Air, Fallston, Joppa-Magnolia, Darlington, Level and Susquehanna Hose Company fire departments approximately two hours to bring under control. Investigators have determined the fire originated in unit “B” of the apartment building. An occupant of the apartment escaped with minor smoke inhalation and declined treatment at the scene. No other injuries were reported during the incident. Smoke alarms were determined to have been operating at the time of the fire.

Damages to the structure and contents are estimated at 1 million dollars. The Red Cross and Harford County Disaster Assistance are assisting 24 occupants who were displaced as a result of the fire. The fire affected units in the 217, 219 and 221 address groups located in the building. The families are reaching out to their respective Fire Damage Claim Adjusters for insurance claims.

This has been the third fire in the Hickory Hills Condominium complex with previous fires in 2010 and earlier this year on April 12th. The fire in 2010 was determined to be the result of careless discarded smoking material on an exterior deck. The fire in April was determined to have originated in an outside common service area and while the fire remains under investigation, there has been no evidence the fire was the result of an intentional act.

The structure was built in 1971, which was before the 1990 requirement of fire sprinkler system installations in all newly constructed apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels and dormitories.