Infant Saved From Fire In Fallston: Officials

FALLSTON, MD — A smoke alarm and sprinkler helped save the life of a baby in Fallston on Saturday, according to authorities.

Around 10:15 a.m., officials said the owner of a home in the 2000 block of Arden Drive, who was outside at the time, heard the smoke alarm in the house sounding.

Firefighters found a fire in the kitchen that started with an unattended candle, according to deputy fire marshals.

One automatic fire sprinkler went off, preventing the blaze from spreading from the kitchen into the rest of the home, investigators said.

There was an estimated $20,000 in damage, officials reported.

Nobody was injured, according to authorities.

Deputy state fire marshals credited the smoke alarm and sprinkler with saving the life of an infant and containing the damage.

In homes with sprinklers, 97 percent of the time the fire sprinklers keep damage contained to the room where the fire originated, according to officials.

"Residential fire sprinklers are proven to save lives, prevent injuries and protect property and valuables," State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci said in a statement, noting these are required by state law in all one or two-family homes. "The best home fire safety practice is combining a smoke alarm, an escape plan, and a residential fire sprinkler. Today we saw the effects of this winning combination."