Fire Tears Through House in Owen Brown

A two-alarm fire ripped through a house on Scarlet Petal in Owen Brown shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The fire started on a porch outside and quickly spread throughout the home. No significant injuries were reported, according to fire officials at the scene.

Penny Brooks was inside her home when the fire began, sitting at the computer.

"I was the only one in the home," said Brooks. "I started to smell smoke and then the neighbor came and banged on the door so hard it broke the bottom latch."

Brooks said she ran downstairs and got some water to attempt to put out the fire, but soon realized she wouldn't be able to put it out. That's when she escaped from her home at the behest of her neighbor, before the blaze overtook the bottom floor and then the top floor of her house, according to witnesses.

"I heard popping and saw the fire trucks coming," said Gintare Meizys, 13, Brooks' next door neighbor who was sitting at her computer in a room directly next to the Brooks' home.

"I ran out, got my dog and saw their porch on fire," said Meizys.

Fire officials at the scene said the fire began on the porch and then spread through the rest of the home causing significant smoke damage. They were unsure of the cause of the fire and initial damages were estimated at $155,000. Approximately 50 firefighters worked for about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze, according to fire officials.

Tim Campbell was inside his home across the street when he also heard popping noises. At first, he said, he thought it was a truck backfiring, but when he came outside he saw Brooks' house on fire.

"The flames were probably about 10 feet over the roof," said Campbell. "It melted the next door neighbors siding. All I can say is I'm glad I live in Howard County, the firefighters were true professionals.

"It did this much damage in less than 10 minutes," said Campbell staring at the blackened front of Brooks' home.

Brooks said she had a couple mosquito repellant cones lit on her porch, but was unsure of what may have caused the fire.

"I have absolutely no idea," said Brooks. "It's just an act of God."

Brooks said she and her husband had a place to stay for the evening.