$50K Damage Caused By Electrical Failure At Abingdon Home, Displacing Family

ABINGDON, MD — A fire broke out twice at the same Abingdon home this past weekend, forcing the family to escape in the dark of night.

According to the Maryland state fire marshal, the first fire started around 11:15 p.m. Saturday inside a two-story home located in the 3800 block of Hebron Terrace. According to the fire marshal, a resident reset a tripped breaker. Shortly after, she smelled smoke and saw flames behind a basement couch that was spreading upward. She and two children, ages 2 and 3, escaped the home.

The Abingdon Fire Company arrived with 35 firefighters who spent 10 minutes limiting the spread of the fire to the basement where it ignited in a lower level bedroom. A 59-year-old woman experienced smoke inhalation and was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she is expected to recover, officials said.

The state fire marshal's office ruled the fire accidental due to an electrical failure. It caused $50,000 in damage and loss of property. The home experienced heavy smoke and soot damage.

The Harford County Disaster Assistance Team is helping the displaced family.