‘Juvenile Fire Play’ Caused Belcamp Blaze: Investigators

BELCAMP, MD — A townhouse fire in Belcamp Tuesday night was ruled accidental, according to officials.

The fire in the 1300 block of Jervis Square Drive broke out before 5:15 p.m., investigators said.

It began inside a bedroom, where a young person was playing with fire, the Office of the State Fire Marshal reported.

Firefighters were working to put out the blaze in a second-floor bedroom, the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company reported before 6 p.m.

Officials said the homeowner discovered the fire, which displaced those living in the residence.

The fire caused $75,000 in structural damage, while $20,000 in items inside the home were lost as well, officials said.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal offered these tips to help parents address “fire-setting behavior”:

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of all children. Better yet, remove all matches and lighters from your home. Most children are only involved with fire because it is available.
• Explain why children cannot use fire. Simply saying “don’t” is not good enough. Think about how you react when you are told that.
• Treat matches and lighters like tools. Give these items the same respect you would other dangerous tools around your home (e.g., knives, kitchen appliances, hammers, etc.)
• Lead by example. You cannot expect your child to treat fire any differently than you do.
• Encourage your child’s school to promote fire safety in the classroom.