Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Multi-Unit Condo Building

Twelve units were destroyed by fire, smoke or water damage Friday morning after a three-alarm fire worked its way through a condominium building in the Cromwell Fountain development.

As of 12:40 p.m., no injuries had been reported at the fire that occurred at 6608 Rapid Water Way, said Lt. Keith Hamilton, spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

According to Hamilton, multiple calls came in at about 10:54 a.m. to report the fire and firefighters were on the scene within minutes. Once on the scene, fire personnel called for a second and then a third alarm, bringing 72 firefighters from Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City and the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Hamilton said.

The initial investigation showed that the fire started in a third-floor apartment, Hamilton said. The fire was officially listed as being under control at 1:15 p.m.

Diane Barbrey, who lived with her husband, Mike, in a first-floor unit, said she was home when she noticed a strange smell, similar to sulfur, and heard a knocking at her sliding-glass door. The knocking turned out to be falling debris, she said.

"I got up, looked outside, grabbed my dog and purse and got out," she said, visibly shaken.

Barbrey said she told firefighters that her two cats were still inside her home. At about noon, a firefighter emerged from Barbrey's condo with one cat, Lucy, in tow.

"We got one more in there," said Barbrey's husband, Mike Barbrey.

"They're in there looking for him," Diane Barbrey said. "Hopefully, they find him because he hides so well."

A few minutes later, the second cat, Ricky, was carried out of the condo by a firefighter and placed in Mike Barbrey's arms.

"I can replace anything else, but I can't replace them," Mike Barbrey said, fighting back tears. "I love them so much."

As of 1:15 p.m., firefighters were still on the scene securing the structure to make sure no debris falls from the building, causing injuries, Hamilton said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials were not expected to have an estimate on damages until late Friday night, Hamilton said.

American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced families. Those wishing to donate to the Barbrey family can contact Diane Barbrey at 443-740-0208.

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 2:56 p.m. with more photographs of the incident.