Fire At Love Of Christ Church Extinguished Monday Morning

JOPPA, MD — Firefighters extinguished a fire in a mechanical room at The Love of Christ Church of God in Joppa on Monday morning.

Though the cause of the fire is under investigation, an electrical failure has not been ruled out, the Office of the State Fire Marshal said.

A neighbor contacted church members after observing water discharging from an exterior pipe, the Office said in a notice of investigation. When those members arrived, they opened the church's rear door to the smell of smoke and the sound of smoke alarms.

Church members called 911 and firefighters arrived at 9:50 a.m., according to the notice.

"Firefighters discovered a fire contained to a mechanical room that had been controlled by a melted water pipe as well (as) not extending beyond the room due to a closed fire rated door," the notice said. "Investigators can not rule an electrical failure as a possible cause."

It took 20 firefighters from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company five minutes to control the flames, and no injuries or deaths were reported, according to the notice.

The church is located at 513 Philadelphia Road, Joppa.