71-Year-Old's Life Saved By Smoke Alarm After Blaze Breaks Out At Home

WHITEFORD, MD — A 71-year-old woman's life was saved by a smoke alarm, but her home is a total loss and her pet cats are dead.

A fire broke out around 3:19 a.m. Dec. 30 at the woman's two-story single family home, which is located in the 4100 block of Prospect Road in Whiteford.

Investigators found the homeowner at a neighbor's home. She told them she woke up to her smoke alarm sounding and found her house on fire. She escaped in only the clothes she was wearing, walked down her long gravel driveway and knocked on a neighbor's door for help. The neighbor called 911, officials said.

Upwards of 50 firefighters arrived at the home to battle the blaze, with the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company as the primary responding department bolstered by help from the Delta-Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company Station 57 and others. It took them more than two hours to gain control of the fire, according to the Maryland State Office of the Fire Marshal.

"However, extremely high winds fueled the fast-moving blaze, eventually causing the home to nearly collapse. Investigators remained on the scene until around 8 a.m.," the fire marshal's office stated.

The fire marshal's office will continue to investigate the fire. The woman is being helped by Harford County Disaster Assistance and family members.

The home has been estimated at $500,000 total loss.