Dog Killed, Cat Rescued In Accidental Joppa House Fire

A dog was killed and a family left without a home after a house fire in Joppa Monday.

Around 12:15 p.m. a neighbor discovered the home in the unit block of Fort Hoyle Road was on fire and tried to control the blaze with a garden hose until firefighters arrived, according to a release from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

Aberdeen Proving Ground firefighter Steve Hinch entered the home and rescued the family cat, the release states. The family dog, however, died in the fire.

Thirty firefighters from Joppa-Magnolia, Abingdon, Bel Air, Kingsville and White Marsh fire companies and APG fire department battled the fire for about 45 minutes before placing it under control, according to the release.

Investigators believe the fire started accidentally in the laundry room when a clothes dryer malfunctioned, the release states. The fire caused about $20,000 damage to the home and $10,000 damage to the building's contents, according to fire officials.

The family was displaced by the fire and is being assisted by local disaster assistance agencies.